adminLetwin Mubonesi
A CHIKANGA woman who was being accused of infidelity by her husband last week escaped a three-month jail term after she was convicted of ill-treating her one- year- old baby.
Rememberance Gondo appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi, pleading guilty to contravening Section 57 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which outlaws the ill-treating of minor children.
Representing the State was Mr Fletcher Karombe.
The court heard that on January 30, at Number 3606, Hobhouse 3, Gondo ill-treated her minor child by undressing and leaving him naked. She later dumped him at her aunt’s place of residence.
“The complainant’s father, Kennedy Mukanganwa had a misunderstanding with Gondo over her infidelity. Mukanganwa packed his bags and moved out of their matrimonial house without the latter’s knowledge.
“Mukanganwa went to stay with his brother, a move which did not go down well with Gondo who later followed him with the child. She went on to untie the child from her back and undressed him on the verandah. She packed the toddler’s clothes in her handbag and told her aunt to find ways of upbringing him,” said Mr Karombe.
The aunt bought diapers for the baby and went on to make a police report leading to Gondo’s arrest.
Asked to explain why she had acted in that manner, Gondo told the court that she was overwhelmed with anger.
Gondo said: “It hurts Your Worship, I was overwhelmed with anger because my husband just packed his clothes unceremoniously and left to stay with his brother without telling me yet he is the one who is responsible to fend for the family.”
Mr Mukwengi sentenced her to three months imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition that she should never commit a similar offence in the next two years.
“You have to desist from that bad behaviour because a child needs your care and love, so failure to do so you risk being incarcerated,” said Mr Mukwengi.
Online Reporter