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Timoth Makohliso Midlands Reporter
A Harare woman stunned a packed courtroom when she screamed pleading for mercy after she was sentenced to 20 months in jail for kidnapping a friend’s 11-year-old daughter she wanted to engage as a maid.
Beauty Rangarirai, 27, of plot number 46 Tnywald South in Harare was convicted on her own plea by Gweru magistrate Vimbai Makora, who sentenced her to 20 months in jail.

Rangirirai will, however, spend 14 months in prison after six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Soon after magistrate Makora read out the sentence, Rangarirai broke down and started screaming as she pleaded with Makora to be lenient.
She told the magistrate that the sentence was too harsh.

For the state, Prisca Kanukamwe told the court that on 18 May this year, Rangarirai came to Shurugwi from Harare and met the complainant at Chachacha Business Centre. She then persuaded her to come with her to Harare.

Kanukamwe said while in Harare, Rangarirai used the complainant as her housemaid.

She said the child had to take care of Rangarirai’s two children while she attended to her fishing business.

The court heard that during the days the complainant was with Rangarirai, she did not attend school.

When the complainant’s mother, who is a friend to Rangarirai got wind that her daughter was staying with her in Harare, she contacted her and asked he to bring the child to Gweru.

Rangarirai however did not bring the child despite the fact that she was contacted serveral times with the same request.

This prompted the girl’s mother to report the matter to the police leading to Rangarirai’s arrest.