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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A-49-YEAR-Old man from Nkayi in Matabeleland North allegedly fatally assaulted his lover’s 10-year-old son for stealing three eggs.
Gift Ngwenya of Hlabathini Village, under Chief Sikhobokhobo was arrested on Friday for allegedly killing Ashton Ncube.
He allegedly punched the boy in the face and hit him with a solar battery on the head, killing him on the spot.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the case was under investigation.
“A 49 year old man returned from a beer drink and was informed that his step son, a 10 year old boy had stolen three eggs which he boiled and ate.
“The man was irritated and punched the boy on his face. He also struck the boy with a 12 volt solar battery on the head and he collapsed and died,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
She urged members of the public entangled in disputes to resolve their differences amicably without resorting to violence.
A neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity said Ngwenya gets violent when he is drunk and he is used to beating up his lover’s children.
“He recently moved in with Sithulisiwe Ndlovu. He always claimed to be disciplining the children saying he doesn’t want spoilt children.
“On this day, we had seen him drinking at our local bar. Maybe he had taken too much because an issue of food is not worth beating a child with fists for.”
The source said the wife told Ngwenya what Ashton had done not really expecting him to beat up the child.
“When she tried to seek help from neighbours upon failure to control him, it was already too late.
“He smashed the child with a battery in the head and he fell to the ground, dying instantly. We tried to resuscitate him but realised he was already dead,” said the neighbour.
@winnie_masara
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