The ManicaPost
Kuziwa Manyoka
Weekender Correspondent
A 23-YEAR-OLD Sakubva man and his mother (47) recently appeared in court charged with child neglect and abuse.
Oscar Mukonda and Annie Dzvimbo, both of the suburb’s NHB section, appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala facing allegations of ill-treating the former’s one-year-five months old daughter.
Mr Chris Munyuku prosecuted.
He told the court that Mukonda divorced the minor’s mother, Vimbai Nyamachiya, and left the child in his mother’s custody.
“The grandmother was now staying with the minor, but did not properly monitor nor take good care of her. She would not change the child’s napkins or diapers regularly or whenever it was due. If the minor messed herself up, the grandmother ignored and left her outside the house,” said Mr Munyuku.
The court heard that Dzvimbo was acting out of spite as she claimed that the child was not her son’s.
Added Mr Munyuku: “Dzvimbo deprived the minor of good care by starving her and leaving her unattended each time she left the house.”
Due to the neglect, the minor developed sores on her privates.
“On August 19, police reacted to a tip-off that the child was being abused and approached the accused’s house to investigate. Mukonda and his mother were both inside the house while the child was alone outside with messed pants,” said Mr Munyuku.
After inspecting the child, police observed some black marks on her back and thighs.
The minor was immediately taken to hospital while the accused duo was arrested.
Mukonda and Dzvimbo both pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to six months in prison, with two months suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Another four months were suspended on condition that they each perform 140 hours of community service.
