The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
A HEARTLESS Honde Valley man (54) allegedly brutally beat up his daughter (14) who succumbed to the severe injuries days later, after accusing her of dating their neighbour’s son.
Amos Nyamangodo of Mangwanda Village under Chief Mandeya, tried to conceal the heinous act by fast-tracking his daughter, Rufaro Nyamangodo’s burial without a post-mortem being done on her body.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident, saying Amos Nyamangodo was arrested after making a report at Ruda Police Station.
“On December 23 at Mangwanda Village in Honde Valley, the accused person severely assaulted his daughter, Rufaro Nyamangodo, accusing her of having a love affair with a neighbour’s son. He allegedly used a mulberry tree switch to assault Rufaro. She sustained bruises and lacerations as a result of the assault,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He said the following day ,Rufaro had difficulties in walking as a result of the sustained injuries,and complained of a painful right leg.
She was not given any medical attention and her condition deterioratedover the next five days.
“On December 29, Rufaro’s elder brother, Tanaka Nyamangodo woke up to check on his sister’s condition in her room, only to find out that she had died. He informed their grandfather, Mr Edison Nyamangodo, who subsequently phoned the accused, informing him of Rufaro’s death,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said when Amos got home, he proceeded to Ruda Police Station to make a report.
“Police attended the scene and after examining the body, they observed some injuries on the deceased’s buttocks and back as well as yellowish saliva oozing from her nose. Her body was taken to Hauna District Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem,” he said.
In an interview during Rufaro’s wake, her mother, Ms Patricia Chawora (41), said the death of her daughter left her heart shattered.
“I am in deep pain. I cannot believe that my daughter is gone. The circumstances under which she met her demise are callous. This is so heartbreaking. What kind of disciplining is it that a father beats his own daughter to death? Amos should have simply sent Rufaro back to me if he had enough of staying with her.
“I do not know what is going to become of my other two sons who were staying with him following this incident. Even up to this day, I am still experiencing nightmares as I continue grappling with the death of my only daughter. It is a traumatic experience for the whole family,”she said, struggling to hold back her tears.
Ms Chawora and Amos had four children together, but they divorced in 2014.
She said her ex-husband was very abusive during the subsistence of their marriage,and was in the habit of beating up the children following the couple’s separation.
Amos Nyamandgodo
Rufaro was mostly on the receiving end of her father’s brutal beatings, she added.
Images of Rufaro that The Manica Post has in its possession show her with a bruised face, lacerated back and swollen right arm.
Village head, Mr Patrick Nyasango, said Rufaro’s death was a sad loss to the community.
He said life is God’s greatest gift whose sanctity must always be respected.
“As Mangwanda Village, we are devastated by the girl’s death. A young life has been lost under circumstances that could have been avoided. We urge parents and guardians to know where to draw the line when they are disciplining their children to prevent fatal consequences. Life is a precious gift that we treasure deeply and must not be lost in deplorable situations similar to this one. We are sharing the Nyamangodo family’s grief by assisting them throughout until Rufaro’s burial and pray that they find comfort in the arms of the Lord,” said Village head Nyasango.
He added: “This is a loss,not only to the Nyamangodo family, but the whole Mangwanda community. What happened is disgraceful and an abomination in our culture. Now that the father has been arrested, the law must take its course.”
The family patriarch, Mr Edison Nyamangodo, who is an elder brother to Amos’ late father,said the incident has thrown them into turmoil.
“The whole family has been left shell-shocked and speechless.It is horrifying that the situation has come to this end. We deeply regret that a child, the future generation of our clan, has been lost at such a tender age in a situation that paints a very bad picture. This is a bad omen and as a family we will sit down to thoroughly discuss what transpired,” he said.
Rufaro’s brother, Tadiwa (18) said he is finding it difficult to believe that his sister is gone.
“I am at a loss of words to describe how exactly I am feeling right now. Although she sustained injuries and was evidently in pain after being beaten up by dad, I never thought it would come to this. May her soul rest in peace,” said Tadiwa in a barely audible voice choking with emotions.
