Woman kidnaps child to please lover

A Kadoma woman has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old boy and falsely presenting him to her lover as their biological child.

The suspect, Sibongile Dzvairo, reportedly took the toddler from the care of his mother Bridget Banda's housemaid in early August and disappeared. Bridget, a mother of three, had been searching frantically for her missing son since the abduction.

According to police sources, Sibongile travelled with the child to Kwekwe, where her lover — described as a gold panner — resides. She allegedly admitted that she lied to the man, claiming the child was his son.

For more than two years, the man had been financially supporting the supposed child without ever seeing him.

Bridget recounted her ordeal, saying:

"I endured sleepless nights, worried by my missing son. After some days, my maid recognized Sibongile, which led us to contact the police."

Working with police, Bridget tracked Sibongile to Kwekwe, where she was finally reunited with her son.

"I was overjoyed to have my child back," she said.

Sibongile allegedly told police that her lover had threatened her life if she failed to produce the child he believed to be his. Out of desperation, she is said to have targeted a child under three years old to pass off as her own.

Although Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera could not be reached for comment, sources confirmed that Sibongile is detained at Rimuka Police Station in Kadoma and is expected to appear in court soon.