MAN, WHO WAS TWO WEEKS OLD WHEN HE WAS STOLEN, REJOINS HIS FAMILY — 30 YEARS LATER

A MAN, who was just two weeks old when he was stolen by a stranger and was even drafted into her family as her child, has been reunited with his real family — 30 YEARS AFTER HE WAS TAKEN AWAY AS A INFANT.

 

Matthew Bwazo even had his name changed to Tinashe James Ncube.

 

He was born on May 19, 1994.

 

Two weeks later, the baby boy disappeared from his family and was never to be seen again.

 

Thirty years later, he emerged again and has now rejoined his family.

 

His story has left a community in Masvingo shocked and traumatised.

 

His parents, Sarah Zhou now 48, and her husband, Clever Bwazo, have lived through the horror of having their son stolen from them for the last 30 years.

 

Their baby was in the hands of Sarah’s mother-in-law when he was snatched away.

 

The child was stolen by Simangaliso Rufu from Masvingo who went on to take him in as her son.

 

Some reports claim that a Mwazha church prophet helped to resolve this fascinating case.

 

The reports say the prophet advised the family that their missing child was staying in Kadoma and his name had been changed from Matthew Bwazo to Tinashe James Ncube.

 

Following the arrest of Simangaliso, some DNA tests were carried out recently in Gweru and they showed he was the child Sarah and Clever have been looking for in the past 30 years.

 

A police report was made at Chikato Police Station last week, leading to the arrest of Simangaliso.

 

She spent some days in custody before both parties agreed for an out-of-court settlement.

 

Matthew is now married and works as a truck driver.

 

Simangaliso Rufu

He has been blessed with four children.

 

A source told H-Metro how the drama unfolded.

 

Simangaliso met Matthew’s mother and grandmother at Mucheke Bus Terminus.

 

After a conversation, she accompanied them to their home.

 

“The infant’s mother decided to take a bath and left the baby with her mother-in-law, who is now late,” said the source.

 

“She delayed her return, prompting her mother-in-law to follow and check on her.

 

“Her mother-in-law left the child with Simangaliso.

 

“Immediately, after she left Simangaliso disappeared with the baby.

 

“That was the last time the baby was seen by his family until now.”

 

The case was reported to Chikato Police Station.

 

“They just concluded that their child was taken for rituals.”

 

Simangaliso did not cooperate with H-Metro when reached for comment.

 

The source said she took the child to fool her husband that she was able to bear children.

 

In a family WhatsApp group, Simangaliso conceded to having stolen the baby.

 

“Makadii hama, ndini Simangaliso Rufu, ndine hurombo zvikuru kusvibisa zita rekwaRufuimhosva yandakapara zvikuru nekuda kwezvikonzero zvandaive nazvo zvisinei ndikuona vamwe vachishushikana nazvo zvikuru.

 

“Kwete hama dzangu, musashushikane henyu nenyaya iyi, haisi yekwaRufu, izita chete asi kune vanofungaseni hakuna ndebvu dzeumwe murume dzinomera pane umwe murume.

 

“Zvanyanya kubata papi, umwe neumwe ane secret yake inomuraramisa ndakachengeta for three decades asi ine zvayakandibatsira pakurarama kwangu zvakatoendesa vamwe vari muno kuchikoro zvikatengera vamwe mauniform.

 

“Usaone katanda kadiki kari muziso remumwe asi chakaipa chakaipa chete ndakakanganisa asi nhasi ndave free kubva kwamuri hama kusvika kuna mwari handei nedzimwe tikande zve pamedia,” she said.

 

Matthew was also not responding to questions from H-Metro.

 

His father, Clever, from Chivamba Village, in a conversation, thanked God for bringing back his son.

 

“Mwari akapindira, mwana akadzoka.

 

“We went to a DNA test in Gweru. Nemo nemo, all the DNA came out positively.

 

“We went to court and they pleaded for an out of court settlement.

 

“She pleaded for forgiveness and we only asked for costs and transport.

 

“She said for the 30 years, mai vakabereka, mombe, baba vekubereka mombe,

 

“We agreed not to charge them anything.

 

“Takamuti hauna kusunungurwa nesu, wasunungurwa naPauro, tikamuti wotouya kuchurch waregerewa naMwari.

 

“Isu takafara and tinofanira kumutenda Mwari waPauro uyu and Mwari ariko.

 

“Think about 30 years, mwana kumuwanira ari Joni achitodriver gonyeti.”