A self confessed serial child kidnapper from Mbare was thoroughly beaten after being apprehended trying to kidnap a one-year-old toddler in Glen Norah on Monday.

A Madzibaba ‘white garment’ apostolic church member, Willie Chindundundu, 21, reportedly hid the child under his apostolic white garment, but was caught before he could jump into a gate away car with the child.

Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, said they were still investigating the matter.

Allegations are that some children were playing outside in Glen Norah C on Tuesday at around 5pm.

As Willie approached, the other children ran away leaving the toddler behind.

Willie took the child and hid him under his garment, and walked away briskly.

“He was caught by Glen Norah C residents after the child’s mother asked other children who were running away where her son was,” said Insp Chakanza.

The children told the little boy’s mother that a man wearing a white garment had taken the tot.

“Hanzi amuisa mugemenzi, so residents chased after him. When he was about to get into a getaway car, the vehicle sped off as they were about to catch Willie,” said a resident.

He was bashed by the mob before the arrival of the police and confessed that he had kidnapped many other children who were in the mountains.

He, however, did not disclose what he does with children he kidnaps.