daniel chigunwe
Arron Nyamayaro
A WOMAN bashed her four-year-old step daughter until she lost consciousness, lied to her husband that she had been attacked by evil spirits and took her to a spiritual healer where she died.
The incident happened in Mabvuku.
Memory Moyana, 20, and her husband Talent Muchato, 26, then used public transport to ferry the body of Tatenda Moyana from Mabvuku to Nyazura, for burial.
However, concerns among neighbours that Memory was responsible for the death of the child led to a report being filed with the police who barred the couple from burying the child.
Police then arrested Memory who admitted to bashing Tatenda until the child lost consciousness.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case saying the body was returned to Harare from Nyazura for a postmortem.
“Police arrested a Mabvuku woman for murder,” said Insp Chakanza.
“Circumstances are that the accused was a stepmother to the now deceased.
“Accused was reported to have been physically abusing the now deceased in her neighbourhood.
“On (Monday), at around 1600 hours, one of their neighbours saw the accused person assaulting the now deceased using open hands.
“After the beating, the neighbour went to check on the now deceased and found her lying on the bed covered with blankets.
“She inspected the now deceased and noticed that she had sustained some injuries on the mouth, neck, waist and a bruised back and was having difficulties in breathing.”
He added:
“At around 1800 hours, the accused person’s husband arrived home and noticed that the now deceased was lying on the bed unconscious and having difficulties in breathing.
“The accused person told him that the now deceased was attacked by evil spirits and they sought assistance from one of their neighbours and took the now deceased to Ruwa for assistance from a spiritual healer.
“The deceased’s condition deteriorated as she frothed from the mouth and nose producing a smelly substance greenish in color and died at around midnight.
“On December 17, 2024, at around 0500 hours, the now deceased’s father together with his brother took the body to their rural home in Nyazura for burial using public transport,” said Insp Chakanza.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter