Educationist, wife in child abuse storm

Tendai Gukutikwa
CRUELTY at its worst was revealed at the Mutare Civil Courts when a step-mother was brought before the courts facing allegations of subjecting her husband’s youngest son to inhuman treatment. Leo Marange, a brother to the minor, alleged that Diniwe Mapfunde and his father, who is Manicaland deputy education director, Oswell Marange being custodians of the minor subjected him to verbal, physical, emotional and psychological abuse.
It was further alleged that the pair denied the child food and at one time punished the minor for two weeks without food.

Presiding over the matter was Mutare magistrate, Mrs Yeukai Chigodora.
In his application, Leo also stated that Mapfunde was in the habit of fabricating lies against the minor which at all times led to Marange assaulting the boy.
“Your Worship, at one time they both chased away the child at around 7pm and they never looked for him until I brought him back home.”

He also told the court that his mother died in March 2011 and his father married Mapfunde in 2013.
“After marrying Mapfunde, my father also evicted me from the house and now the only child they stay with is the minor.

The 13-year-old also testified that he had been subjected to punishment of two weeks without food.
He described his stepmother as wicked and stated that he only ate food from his friends at school.

“Whenever I complain to my dad, he does not take any action and dismisses my claims as lies.
“At most times, I get food from my elder brother, Leo who no longer stays at the house.

“My stepmother ill-treats me and most times when I come with food from my brother, it disappears from the house,” the child said.
Marange and Mapfunde, however, opposed the application and argued that they were taking good care of the child.

“Leo is making this application because he is bitter since I evicted him from the house,” Oswell said during cross-examination.
“I did not chase away my son as alleged, but I asked him to go and call his elder brother Leo after there was a dispute over some missing documents.”
He also professed ignorance as to how food was consumed at home indicating that his duty was to simply buy the food.

“The child can cook for himself when he comes from school since it is our tradition at the house that since everyone is either employed or goes to school. The first person to arrive prepares the food,” said Mapfunde, who is also a student-teacher.

She claimed that she did not have any problems with the child, but that they were some adults who were influencing the child to make the false allegations.
The protection order was granted to Leo, who had applied on behalf of his little brother against his father and stepmother.

Meanwhile, Mapfunde is also facing criminal charges of domestic violence towards the same minor at the Mutare Magistrate’s Court and the matter has since been adjourned for trial to May 4, 2015 by magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira.