Man in dire need of cash arrested as he tried to sell daughter for rituals

A Zimbabwean man has been arrested for attempting to sell his eight-year-old daughter to a businessman for rituals.

Tapiwa Vhutani (27) of Kumboedza Farm in Kadoma was arrested after he continuously pestered businessman Obert Juru – son to Bishop Ollah Juru – that he was selling his daughter for $12 000.

Vhutani appeared before a Magistrate Court last week facing allegations of “conspiracy to commit murder”, contravening Section 188 (1) (b) as read with section 47 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, chapter 9:23.

He was remanded in custody to this Tuesday.

According to state papers, Vhutani was trapped and arrested on the spot by the Chivhu Criminal Investigations Department (CID) police while attempting to hand over his daughter to another team of law enforcement agents who posed as potential buyers.

It is alleged that sometime in March, the accused went to a bar in Chivhu, and asked a reveller for the contact details of the owner of a vehicle with South African registration plates that was parked outside.

The vehicle belonged to Bishop Juru, but Vhutani was given Obert’s mobile phone number.

It is further aalleged that on May 27, Vhutani asked Obert, who had already informed the police, if he had found a buyer for the child.

The police then directed Obert to arrange a meeting with Vhutani with the CID officers posing as potential buyers.

Vhutani met Obert who was in the company of undercover police agents who negotiated the price for the child from $15 000 to $12 000.

The accused was given $20 bus fare to go and collect the girl who stayed with her grandmother in Wedza.

In his statement to the police which was presented in court, Vhutani said he had heard through the media that there are people from South Africa who buy children for killing to enhance business fortunes.