THE 21-YEAR-OLD maid of Lusaka who recently stole a sixmonth-old baby but got arrested days later in Kitwe has told the court that she went away with the infant because she wanted to have a child. This was after she pleaded guilty to child stealing. Racheal Banda, of SOS area in Lusaka, told Lusaka magistrate Faides Hamaundu that she stole the baby so that she could be staying with it.

On December 14 last year, with intent to deprive Brenda Hakanema, the mother of Luyando, the baby boy, Racheal fraudulently took possession of the child. Asked if she had any claim of right to take the child, she replied in the negative. When Magistrate Hamaundu asked what she intended to do with the child, Racheal responded: “I wanted to be staying with the baby because I have no child.” Asked if she got consent from the child’s parents, Racheal said no. The case was adjourned to today for reading of facts.

Racheal’s story sparked public outrage after word went round that a maid had stolen a baby from New Kasama. After going missing with the child for about four days, Racheal was arrested by police in Kitwe. She was apprehended by alert traders at Chisokone Market as she moved from one restaurant to another asking for food for herself and the baby.

While she was moving around the restaurants, she caught the attention of some members of the public, who quickly started comparing the pictures of her and the baby posted on social media. Meanwhile, trial in a case four businessmen are accused of stealing over K19,000 and valuables from a motor vehicle of a woman at Oxgen Gym on Leopards Hill Road failed to start yesterday.

The accused in this matter are Aswell Mwape, 25, of Matero Township, Charles Mpeuka, 25, of Chalala, Chowa Sichilima, 24, of Lilanda, and Shawn Phiri, 32, of Matero. The four are charged with theft from a motor vehicle. On December 3 last year, the four allegedly stole from a Honda CRV two bags containing US$900 and K2,000 cash, a driving licence, a passport, an ATM card, perfume and a pair of shoes. Other items were a gym gear, two towels, an IPhone and a pair of slippers all valued at K19,210.

The stolen items belong to AnnieMarie Sievu. But trial could not start before principal magistrate Jennipher Bwalya because the arresting officer and the main witness in the case were not before court. The case was adjourned to January 20 for mention and February 5 for trial.