Pauline Maganga, a woman from Gokwe, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube for selling her newborn son and falsely claiming he had died.

Maganga, 23, confessed to trafficking her child, admitting she handed over her son a day after his birth in South Africa. She revealed she received R25,000 from Janet Marimo, who planned to take the infant to Australia.

State prosecutor Tendai Tapi demonstrated that the entire arrangement occurred in South Africa. Maganga had been in contact with Marimo during her pregnancy, with WhatsApp messages confirming the deal.

Marimo took the baby two days after birth. The arrangement included Maganga obtaining the baby’s birth certificate by October 29, but she failed to do so. Marimo then illegally brought the baby to Zimbabwe.

Marimo was arrested in Waterfalls, Harare, after detectives received a tip-off. Upon learning of Marimo’s arrest, Maganga returned to Zimbabwe on December 12 last year to reclaim her baby. DNA tests confirmed she was the mother, leading to her arrest and the baby being handed over to Social Welfare.

In sentencing Maganga, Magistrate Ncube condemned her actions, stating, “The offence was committed in aggravating circumstances and there were no special circumstances to consider. Aggravation factors outweigh mitigatory factors. She had the duty to keep and protect this child but she chose to commodify the child for the purpose of trafficking.”

He further noted, “In this modern world, no person should be sold; we have passed the slave trade era. She should have given up the child in a legal manner through adoption if she was really poor.”