Tragic Betrayal: Mother sentenced to 10 years for selling newborn son
In a harrowing case that has gripped the nation, a 23-year-old woman from Gokwe has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling her own newborn baby. Pauline Maganga pleaded guilty to charges of contravening Zimbabwe’s Trafficking in Persons Act before a Harare magistrate.
The heartbreaking ordeal unfolded just two days after Maganga gave birth to her son in Johannesburg, South Africa. The young mother made the devastating decision to sell her infant to an accomplice.
According to prosecutors, Maganga sold the baby in South Africa on June 26th, 2023. Tragically, the accomplice managed to smuggle the infant back to Zimbabwe in October of that year.
The chilling plot was uncovered on November 27th, 2023, when the accomplice was arrested following a tip-off. Thankfully, the baby was quickly placed under the care of the Department of Social Welfare, ensuring his safety and well-being.
When Maganga learned of her accomplice’s arrest, she returned to Zimbabwe on December 12th, 2023, in a last-ditch attempt to reclaim the child. However, her claims were viewed with deep suspicion, as she had previously stated the baby had died shortly after birth.
In handing down the 10-year sentence, Magistrate Lazini Ncube said although Pauline Maganga had claimed she was struggling to survive, selling a child was an unacceptable and unlawful act, regardless of the mother’s personal circumstances or motivations. The sale of a human being, especially a newborn, is a grievous crime that cannot be tolerated.
