Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
A 34-year-old man from Mbejimakeke Village in Siganda, Inyathi, Bubi District, has been sentenced to two years in prison for torturing and starving his two children, aged five and three.
Bulawayo magistrate, Ms Beverly Madzikatire, convicted him of violating the Children’s Act by ill-treating the minors, who had been left in his care by his wife.
He will serve an effective 20 months in jail after four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar crime within that period.
The abuse occurred between October 25 and December 4, 2023, while the children’s mother was at Siganda Clinic awaiting the birth of their sibling. In passing sentence, Ms Madzikatire condemned the father’s actions, stating that he had a duty to protect his children rather than harm them.
“The law does not tolerate those who abuse minors. The courts agree with the State that a custodial sentence is appropriate for this crime. The accused was meant to nurture, not torment, his children,” she said.
Prosecutor Mr Sehliselo Khumalo told the court that the man repeatedly beat the children with a log, poured water into one child’s right eye, burnt another’s hand with hot isitshwala, and denied them food. Both victims sustained bruises across their bodies, with one also suffering hand burns.
In aggravation, Mr Khumalo said the man had inflicted both physical and emotional trauma on the vulnerable children.
“The accused assaulted these vulnerable young children. He was supposed to teach them and show them love,” he said.
He also emphasised that young children have constitutional rights that protect them.
