malvernmugadzikwa
A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl from Rimbi village in Chipinge died of severe burns after her dress caught fire while playing house, known as mahumbwe in Shona.
Tawananyasha Mwaziyangeyi-Hanyanisi sustained burns all over the body and died at Chipinge District Hospital, 13 days after the freak accident.
Villagers expressed shock over the occurrence.
Mr Willard Mwaziyangeyi-Hanyanisi said the only part of her daughter’s body that remained with skin was the head.
He said Tawananyasha was playing alone when the incident occurred.
“We went through a painful period as a family since the day our daughter got burnt. However, it is our daughter who went through the most excruciating pain during the 13 days she was nursing the injuries that later resulted in her death.
“Her skin was burnt all over. The only part of her body that remained with skin was the head. She was alone when the incident happened. There was no one at home to assist her, and this meant she cried a lot, but could not get any help. Her mother had gone to the river to do laundry.
“What makes the whole thing a bit complex and difficult to comprehend is that Tawananyasha was only playing and using twigs to light up the fire. It is not easy to accept and understand how the fire got out of control,” he said.
Neighbours suspect foul play.
Ms Mwaoneni Hakata, who stays near the bereaved family, said: “Everyone is in agreement that such a thing can happen naturally, but there is something behind it and the family needs to find out before they start losing other children the same way.”
Mr Khulumani Hlekisani, of the same village, said: “It is obvious there is something terribly wrong within the family or around the area. If I was the father, I would not waste time in trying to find out what caused such a freak accident.” — Manica Post
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Pastor bashes unclothed female sangoma
A pastor from Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo shocked residents when he beat up his tenant, a traditional healer, while she was naked as punishment for playing music too loudly while he was conducting a church service.
Khumbulani Mzizi — the founder of Tsime Rase Birthsider, who was conducting a church service at his house — assaulted Sikhululiwe Dube for playing music loudly on her radio.
Dube’s actions did not go down well with Mzizi, who accused the tenant of disturbing him and his congregants.
It is reported Mzizi confronted Dube, asking her to reduce the volume but she reportedly defied the order.
Tempers flared, with Mzizi ending up storming into her room, where he found her naked, before thrashing her with a walking stick.
He did not end there. He choked Dube and punched her on the forehead.
Dube screamed for help, attracting the attention of a neighbour, who rushed to the scene and restrained Mzizi.
Dube, who suffered injuries, reported the matter at the Mzilikazi Police Station, leading to the arrest of Mzizi.
Mzizi appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate on an assault charge.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
The magistrate fined him US$200, which has to be paid by the end of September 30, failure of which he would spend three months in jail.
In addition, he was sentenced to three months behind bars, which were wholly suspended, on condition he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
In sentencing him, the magistrate noted that Mzizi was a first-time offender, who did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the charge, adding that he also apologised for his unbecoming behaviour.
This was also after Mzizi told the court that he was a breadwinner and father of four young children.
The magistrate, however, chastised him, saying he was wrong in physically abusing a defenceless woman with a weapon and, therefore, deserved to be punished.
He said it was the duty of the courts to protect vulnerable members of society against physical abuse.
However, the magistrate said Mzizi was “saved” by the fact that a medical report was not produced to ascertain the degree of the injury suffered by Dube since she refused to go to hospital, saying, according to her beliefs, she is not supposed to seek medical attention. — B-Metro
Online Reporter