A ZIMBABWEAN maid has been jailed in Botswana for attempting to smuggle her employer’s six-month-old baby boy from that country.
STAFF REPORTER
According to reports emanating from Botswana, Reason Takadzwa (30) reportedly disappeared with Maurine Fernando Amisi’s baby boy from Mochudi on Christmas Day last year while she was at work.
The Voice newspaper reported that the baby was found safe in Mogoditshane, Gaborone, following a tip-off and Takadzwa was arrested.
Takadzwa’s own child died not so long ago and people were surprised to see her with a baby she claimed hers.
Relating her ordeal, Amisi said she employed Takadzwa in September last year to help her with the kids while she worked at her design shop.
“In mid-December, she told me she would not be going home for the festive season, but on Christmas Day she said she wanted to go. I had no choice but to release her,” she said.
Amisi said Takadzwa packed her bags, said goodbye to her and left Mochudi giving her family the impression that she was on her way to Zimbabwe.
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The distraught mother explained that she had left her baby boy with his 14-year-old sister while she went to deliver some orders to her clients.
“When I returned in the evening, I was met by a sorry sight as neighbours had gathered in my yard because my child had gone missing,” Amisi said.
“It was only then that I realised that my daughter had attempted to phone me, but could not get through. I could have come earlier.”
Amisi said her daughter had told her that Takadzwa returned in the afternoon accompanied by a friend claiming she had forgotten some of her belongings that she wanted to take to Zimbabwe.
Not suspecting anything and perhaps even happy that the maid was temporarily back, the girl went behind the house to play with her friends and left her younger brother in Takadzwa’s care.
“When my daughter went back into the house, she was shocked to find both the baby and the maid gone.
“The young girl immediately alerted passersby, who said they had seen Takadzwa and her friend boarding a taxi with the baby,” she said.
She said neighbours then made an attempt to trace the taxi, but were unsuccessful.
“It was only on the following day that somebody told us that Takadzwa was seen in Mogoditshane.
“Her mobile phone was off so we decided to go to Mogoditshane with the police to hunt for her.
“We heard she was planning to leave for Zimbabwe via Masunga the next day, but the police managed to nab her.
“When she was asked why she took the baby, she had the nerve to lie to the police that I owed her money.”
The baby was taken to Princess Marina Hospital where he was treated for stomach complications caused by the long life milk Takadzwa fed him and released back into the custody of his mother.
Takadzwa is yet to appear in the Botswana Magistrates’ Court.
