A 16-year-old mother and her own mother have been arrested for their involvement in a disturbing illegal adoption scheme, where they attempted to sell a newborn for $180. The young mother’s identity has been kept confidential, although she used the name Nobuhle Sibanda during the deal. Her mother, Evelyn Zisengwe, was also implicated.
The two women conspired to sell Nobuhle’s nine-month-old baby to Dion Tore, a person they met through a WhatsApp group. Tore, who is believed to be involved in the underground world of illegal adoptions, was arrested along with the two women after a tip-off led to their capture. All three have been charged with human trafficking and were remanded in custody, awaiting bail hearings.
According to court proceedings, the plot began in January when Zisengwe allegedly informed Tore that her daughter, Sibanda, was pregnant but intended to terminate the pregnancy. Tore, who claimed to have a history of miscarriages, expressed interest in adopting the child. They arranged to meet in February, where a scan revealed the baby was a girl, seven months and three weeks into the pregnancy.
The trio then conspired to have the baby delivered prematurely at Sally Mugabe Hospital, with the help of an unidentified nurse. Tore provided false information about the pregnancy to hospital staff, posing as the mother. Sibanda delivered the baby prematurely on February 25, and the child was handed over to Tore on March 5 at Harare Hospital. Tore later created a fake death certificate, falsely claiming that the child had died shortly after birth.
From May to August, Zisengwe received a total of $180 via Ecocash from Tore for the baby. The plot unraveled when police in Murehwa were tipped off, leading to the arrests. This case follows a similar one in May, when Pauline Maganga was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling her child as part of a human trafficking ring.
ALSO READ ; Con Artist Dupes Businessman in $4,930 Chrome Deal Gone Wrong
