23-year-old Byo Man Sentenced for Attempted Ritual Kidnapping of 3-year-old Girl

By Nomathemba Mathe

Tawanda Maronze, A 23-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to four years in prison for kidnapping a 3-year-old girl with the intent to use her in a ritual.

The sentence follows an incident on the 26th of October 2024, when Maronze abducted the child and took her to a secluded area five kilometers from her home, where he intended to harm her.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Maronze confessed in court that he planned to carry out the ritual for financial gain under the direction of a traditional healer. Fortunately, the child’s aunt intercepted him in time, rescuing her from a tragic fate.

Ends//