Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
BULAWAYO – In a wave of relief that has swept across the city, two-year-old Asanda Ndlovu, who was abducted from Meikles Mall earlier this week, has been found alive and unharmed. The breakthrough came on Thursday morning following a tip-off from a sharp-eyed member of the community.
The toddler was reunited with her distraught mother just two days after she was taken from her mother’s workplace at the intersection of L. Takawira Avenue and J. Moyo Street on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
According to details emerging from the investigation, the discovery was made possible by a vigilant informant who spotted something amiss at a city flat. Two technicians from a private security firm, who were assisting in the search, revealed that the informant’s intuition was key to cracking the case.
“The informer said she suspected the toddler was somewhere at a flat but wanted to get a closer view of the CCTV footage,” one technician recounted.
“We showed the informer a clearer footage and she confirmed that it was her she had seen.”
Acting immediately on this confirmation, the technicians alerted the CID Homicide unit. Police officers swiftly moved in, locating the child at the flat in question.
The police have since confirmed the safe recovery of the child and the arrest of a female suspect.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Bulawayo Province Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, detailed the swift conclusion to the search.
“On the 19th of February 2026, the police received information on the whereabouts of the toddler who was believed to have been abducted on the 17th of February 2026 at around 1030hrs at her mother’s workplace,” Inspector Msebele’s statement read.
“Acting on the information, the police swiftly reacted and arrested the suspect, a female adult at corner Herbert Chitepo and 3rd avenue, Bulawayo. The toddler has since been reunited with her mother and the suspect is assisting the police with further investigations.”
Commending the public’s role in the happy outcome, Inspector Msebele added,
“We applaud members of the public for cooperating with the police leading to location of the child.”
The news of Asanda’s safe return has brought an end to a tense 48-hour period for her family and the entire Bulawayo community, who had anxiously awaited positive news.
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