Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A WOMAN who cut the lower membrane of a child’s tongue, causing her to bleed to death, has been sentenced to effectively serve eight years in jail.
In a statement the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said the offender, Chipiwa Majasi (43) of Village 3, Kugutakurima under Chief Mposi in Mberengwa, appeared before a High Court Judge sitting on circuit in Gweru last Thursday who convicted and sentenced her to 10 years’ imprisonment on a culpable homicide charge.
Two years were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years. The offender will effectively serve 8 years in jail.
The child, Ruvarashe Mafikeni, died at Runyararo Complex, Vanguard, Mberengwa, on 5 March this year.
The court heard that the mother of the deceased child invited the offender to the family residence to perform a traditional incision procedure intended to address the child’s ‘speech problem’.
The offender used a razor blade to cut the lower membrane of the child’s tongue before leaving the residence. The child bled and the bleeding later stopped. The child fell asleep and later died.
She was taken to Mberengwa District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the offender’s arrest.
A post-mortem established the cause of death as haemorrhagic shock, sublingual artery laceration and tongue injury.
The NPAZ has emphasised the importance of protecting vulnerable persons, particularly children.
“NPAZ discourages members of the public from engaging in unsafe practices that may result in serious injury or loss of life,” said NPAZ.
