HARARE – A Harare Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Janet Maromo to five years in prison after convicting her of trafficking a two-day-old infant from South Africa to Zimbabwe, in violation of the Trafficking in Persons Act.
Maromo was found guilty of purchasing the newborn from the biological mother, who facilitated the illegal transaction. She then transported the child across the border, an act the court deemed as human trafficking.
During sentencing, the court acknowledged special circumstances, including Maromo’s bona fide misunderstanding of adoption laws in both countries, her lack of sophistication, and the mother’s influence on her actions.
The case highlights the ongoing fight against human trafficking and the importance of protecting children from exploitation.
