Baby traffickers denied bail, fresh details emerge
By Staff Reporter
A Harare court on Monday heard that Christabel Muringami, who gave away her newly born baby to another woman, ran away from her parents’ home in Bulawayo to give birth in Harare.
Tabeth Chenyika, whom she gave her son to, had also lied to her boyfriend that she was pregnant.
The two are accused of contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act.
They initially appeared in court last week before they were remanded in custody for their bail application.
On Monday, Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa denied the two bail, ruling that there was overwhelming evidence against them.
“Muringami ran away from her parents in Bulawayo to come and give birth in Harare. It is this court’s view that she is a flight risk and has a propensity to abscond if granted bail,” she ruled.
According to the State, sometime in January 2025 accused one (Muringami) hatched a plan to traffic her child soon after birth for an unlawful purpose.
“She then advertised on a Facebook page called Adoption that she was about to deliver and invited anyone who wanted a baby to contact her.
“She linked up with accused two (Chenyika) and the two conspired to traffic the child.
“On 10 February 2025, accused one travelled from Bulawayo to Harare and registered the pregnancy at Mbuya Nehanda Maternity wing, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
“On 25 February 2025, accused one gave birth to a baby girl at Mbuya Nehanda Maternity, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and was discharged on 28 March 2025.
“On 6 March 2025, the two accused contacted each other and met in Letombo, Msasa, Harare, where accused one unlawfully surrendered the custody of the infant to accused two and effectively facilitated an authorised adoption,” the State alleges.
The court heard that on 29 March 2025, Muringami was arrested following a tip-off that she had delivered and disposed of the child.
She then allegedly led to the arrest of Chenyika and the recovery of the child in Dzivarasekwa 4, Harare.
The child was placed in the custody and care of the Department of Social Welfare.
Rufaro Chonzi is representing the state.
