Harare — THE Department of Social Welfare has taken custody of two children, aged nine and seven, who were being allegedly abused and neglected by their father and stepmother in Harare.

The minors, whose names cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, are now being rehabilitated at Mbuya Nehanda Children's Home in Ruwa. They are believed to be suffering from kwashiorkor.

The two, a girl and her younger brother, were residing with their father and stepmother.

Their father and biological mother are divorced and her whereabouts are not known, according to neighbours.

The children are reported to have resorted to begging for food and money from neighbours.

The girl was no longer going to school and neighbours said they made several reports at Kuwadzana Police Station but nothing was done about the plight of the two.

Mrs Constancia Mwanandimai, a civil servant, approached the father last week, moved by the children's plight.