A Zimbabwean woman, Janet Marimo, has been sentenced to five years in pr!son for her involvement in tr@fficking a two-day-old baby from South Africa to Zimbabwe.
Her intention was to sell the child for adoption outside Africa.
Marimo conspired with the infant’s mother, Pauline Maganga, paying R25,000 to purchase the baby.
Their plan was to arrange an illegal adoption abroad; however, law enforcement intercepted them before the transaction could be completed, leading to her arrest in Harare.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Donald Ndirowei acknowledged that the standard sentencing guidelines for such crimes typically carry a sentence of 10 years.
Nonetheless, he determined that “special circumstances” justified a reduction in Marimo’s sentence.
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He explained, “The court found the accused was bona fide in her mistaken understanding of adoption laws in both South Africa and Zimbabwe,” emphasizing her ignorance of the law and lack of sophistication as mitigating factors.
In a related case, the baby’s biological mother, Pauline Maganga, who connected with Marimo through a Facebook adoption group in March 2023, was sentenced to 10 years in pr!son in May 2024.
Marimo had administered the online group, facilitating discussions about adoption among its six members, which included individuals from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United States.
This platform ultimately led to the illicit arrangement and their eventual arrests.
Authorities have reiterated warnings about the ongoing threat posed by illegal adoption networks, prompting law enforcement to intensify efforts to dismantle such operations.
