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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter—
A TEENAGER kidnapped a six-month-old baby from a disabled street hawker to cover up for a pregnancy she had faked for nine months. Michelle Marole, 18, of Sizinda in Bulawayo, yesterday told senior regional magistrate Mark Dzira that she originally just wanted to play with the baby. She said she “made a mistake” and eventually went away with it.

The baby’s mother, who sells vegetables at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street, raised the alarm when she discovered her baby — whose sex was not mentioned in court —was missing.

Dzira jailed Marole for five years after convicting her of kidnapping.

She had pleaded guilty.

“I made a mistake by taking the baby. I never intended to kidnap it. I only wanted to play with it. I’m married and currently staying with my husband who’s aged 22,” she said in mitigation.

Magistrate Dzira rebuked her for causing grief to Fungai Khanye, the tot’s mother.

“Cases of child kidnapping are on the increase in Bulawayo and it’s fortunate that the baby was found minutes later unharmed. Your sentence must punish you and also at the same time deter like-minded people,” said the magistrate.

“I was going to give you a stiffer sentence, but I’ve considered that you’re a young first offender who pleaded guilty and didn’t waste the court’s time. You’re therefore sentenced to five years in prison of which two years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.”

Marole’s mother-in-law, Savie Maria Gama, 36, told investigators that the teenager visited her last year in August claiming she was two months pregnant, according to a record of her interview with the police presented in court.

“I welcomed her into our home as a daughter-in-law. I even gave her money to register at the clinic since my son is unemployed and I bought her ‘preparation’,’ she said.

“At one point she said the baby was expected to be born on April 30 and we waited for the baby. On April 29, she disappeared from the house. A few days later, she called me from her friend’s phone requesting for money for transport to return home. I sent her some money and while we were still expecting her to come home with the baby, police called saying she’d been arrested,” she said.

Marole, the court heard, claimed she gave birth to a baby girl.

Tinashe Dzipe, for the State, said on May 9 this year at around 5PM, Marole approached Khanye and pretended to be interested in buying some clothes from her.

“Marole told Khanye that she was going to wait for her friend who had her money. She then waited at the stand while playing with Khanye’s baby. She surreptitiously walked away with the baby and when Khanye followed, she could not locate her,” said Dzipe.

“Marole was then caught a short distance away heading towards Tredgold Building by Khanye’s friend. Khanye took her child home leaving Marole at the mercy of a mob that was baying for her blood.”