A shocking baby-selling scandal emerged during court proceedings in Harare on Wednesday, centering around **20-year-old Pauline Maganga**, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for human trafficking. In a pivotal testimony, Maganga implicated her alleged accomplice, **Janet Marimo**, in a disturbing online operation that targeted vulnerable mothers.
Maganga recounted her experience with Marimo, whom she initially believed to be a legitimate adoption agent. Their connection began in March 2023 when Maganga joined a group called **Child Adoption**, where Marimo served as the administrator. This group consisted of six women from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United States, all engaging in discussions about adoption.
“I joined a group called Child Adoption, of which Marimo was the administrator. In that group, there were six active members, all females, including myself,” Maganga testified. After revealing her pregnancy, she expressed her financial struggles, which led other group members to offer assistance. However, Marimo warned her against selling the baby to anyone else in the group, alleging that they would use the child for organ donation.
Instead, Marimo promised to cover all medical expenses, including gynecological consultations. Maganga gave birth on **June 27, 2023**, at Far East Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. She stated, “Marimo gave me ZAR1,000 to pay hospital bills, with the balance due by the end of July 2023.” She was only provided with the child’s birth card and was told she would receive the full birth record after settling the remaining hospital fees.
As part of their agreement, Maganga was to pay **ZAR25,000** for the adoption of her child. The case, presided over by Harare magistrate **Donald Ndirowei**, revealed that on **October 29, 2023**, Marimo was unable to secure the necessary documents for the child in Zimbabwe and allegedly attempted to smuggle the undocumented infant through an illegal entry point.
Marimo was arrested on **November 27, 2023,**, following police investigations triggered by a tip-off about her return from South Africa with a five-month-old baby, despite never having been pregnant herself. The court proceedings are set to continue next week, shedding light on the serious issues of human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in society.
In other news – President Mnangagwa donates 90 vehicles to traditional leaders
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged that the Second Republic will prioritize food security for Zimbabweans despite the challenges posed by the El Niño-induced drought. Speaking in Harare on Wednesday during the handover of over 90 service vehicles to traditional leaders, the President emphasized the crucial role that chiefs will play in the ongoing food distribution program within rural communities.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of traditional leaders, asserting that no one would be left out of the food distribution exercise. “To date, five tonnes of food have been distributed in each ward countrywide, with chiefs spearheading the distribution through the **Zunde RaMambo** program,” he stated. Read More
