Story by Fungai Jachi
A 16-year-old girl from Murehwa and her mother who allegedly connived to sell the teenager’s newborn for US$180 have appeared in court facing charges of human trafficking.
Evelyn Zisengwe aged 47 and her daughter (name withheld), along with Dion Tore aged 34, appeared in court facing charges of contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act.
The teenager was released into the custody of the Social Welfare, while Zisengwe and Tore will finalise their bail application on Thursday.
It is alleged the trio conspired to unlawfully adopt the child, with Zisengwe and her daughter planning to sell the baby to Tore, who had a history of persistent miscarriages.
In January this year, Zisengwe met Tore on a WhatsApp media platform named Sora ne Miti where they exchanged phone numbers.
Zisengwe advised Tore that her daughter was pregnant but intended to abort the child and Tore sought to adopt the child.
Tore met the teenager in Harare on the 22nd of February this year and facilitated the taking of a scan which established the pregnancy was seven months and three weeks old.
On the same date, the two allegedly proceeded to Harare Hospital where Tore connived with an unknown nurse to induce the teenager to prematurely deliver her child.
The court heard on the 25th of February, the minor delivered her child who was born prematurely.
It alleged that on the 5th of March, she handed over the newborn baby to Tore at Harare Hospital.
Tore allegedly created a fake death record on behalf of the teenager to cover up the sale.
Zisengwe allegedly received US$180 from Tore through Ecocash.
The baby is now nine months old.
The trio was arrested after police in Murehwa received a tip-off.
