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Woman in the dock for abduction, ‘child labour’

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A 27-YEAR-OLD Harare woman, who allegedly abducted an 11-year-old girl from her parents’ home in Shurugwi and employed her as a housemaid,

A 27-YEAR-OLD Harare woman, who allegedly abducted an 11-year-old girl from her parents’ home in Shurugwi and employed her as a housemaid, yesterday appeared in court facing two charges of kidnapping and restriction on employment of children respectively.

Stephen Chadenga OWN CORRESPONDENT

Beauty Rangarira of Plot 46, Tynwald South in Harare, allegedly abducted the minor (name supplied) from Chachacha business centre in Shurugwi and took her to Harare without the consent of her parents.

She then employed her as a housemaid.

The complainant’s mother, however, recovered her child after a month-long search and made a report to the police, leading to Rangarira’s arrest.

Through her lawyer Hillary Garikayi, Rangarira denied the charges, saying she took the minor from her sister’s home in Shurugwi town with the intention of taking her to school after the victim’s mother had remarried.

She said the minor had dropped out of school and out of goodwill, she intended to take care of the child.

But prosecutor Prisca Kanhukamwe insisted the accused had taken the child to Harare without the approval of her parents.

Gweru magistrate Vimbai Makora will deliver judgment this Friday.

The State alleges that on May 18 this year, Rangarira went to Shurugwi and met the complainant at Chachacha business centre.

The accused allegedly took the minor to Harare where she assigned her duties of looking after her two children, aged six and two years.

Rangarira was arrested on June 7 after she allegedly defied pleas to release the girl.