Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A 60-YEAR-OLD granny from Marange has been arrested for allegedly torturing her 10-year-old granddaughter by placing hot roundnuts inside her clothes in a bid to force her to confess to stealing US$20 from a tuckshop.
The incident, which occurred in Rubatso Village, has sparked widespread outrage after details of the alleged abuse were shared on social media, prompting police to take action.
According to the reports, the victim was staying with her grandmother while her mother was away, having remarried in Hot Springs area.
The granny allegedly subjected the child to the brutal treatment, causing serious burns, but her mother failed to seek medical attention for the victim, despite being alerted to the incident a day later.
The victim’s mother was reportedly reluctant to report the matter to the police, but the case came to light after it was shared on social media, prompting the police to intervene and arrest the grandmother.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Chinyoka confirmed the case, and said the mother of the child took the child from Marange to Hot Springs as she did not want her mother arrested, as she was the one staying with the victim.
“On December 24, 2025, the accused person sent the victim to the tuckshop and later alleged that she had stolen US$20 from the tuckshop.
‘‘The grandmother poured roasted roundnuts inside the victim’s clothing twice while she was tied at the waist as a way of forcing her to confess to the allegations. The victim was also assaulted with a switch. The victim contacted her mother on December 25, 2025, and advised her of what had happened, but the mother did not check on her condition due to financial constraints. Instead, she contacted the accused over the phone.
“On January 14, 2026, the victim’s mother visited the accused person and the victim narrated the story and showed her mother the wounds, but no police report was made. The mother wanted to leave the victim with the accused person, but the victim refused to be left behind and went with her mother to Hot Springs, where she is staying.
“The victim’s mother did not make a formal report on the grounds that she did not want the grandmother to be arrested, since she was the one who had looked after her daughter. The matter came to light after it circulated on social media groups. An informant alerted the police, leading to the arrest of the grandmother on January 24, 2026. The complainant was referred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for examination and treatment. The accused is expected to appear in court,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
