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A 25-year-old Dangamvura woman was fined $150 for physically assaulting her six-year-old niece on her head several times. Tabitha Tinashe Bishawu, who is now a regular at the courts, was convicted on her own guilty plea and fined $150 when she appeared before Mutare senior magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiwundura. Responding to the allegations, Bishawu said she was disciplining the child and did not mean to cause any body injuries.
“I actually have scars all over my body because my parents used to whip me when I erred. They used to beat me up because they wanted to instil discipline on me. Your worship, you cannot call that assault, it is instilling discipline on a child,” she said.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
The courts heard that Bishawu, on February 16, went outside the house where the juvenile was playing alone.
“For no apparent reason, she started assaulting her on the head and on the back.
“The minor’s mother was the one who rescued the child after she arrived and found Bishawu assaulting her,” said Karombe.
The “troublesome” Bishawu was last September dragged to the civil courts by her older siblings, Kudakwashe and Tariro who were seeking a protection order against her.
Bishawu was described as a violent and abusive drug addict by her sisters.
Kudakwashe and Tariro Bishawu told the courts that Tabitha was physically and emotionally abusing their children as well as her own child, something that has caused unrest and divisions in the family.
“She is in the habit of locking our children in the toilet when we are not at home and assaulting them. She becomes violent when anyone tries to stop her from taking drugs. I actually have scars on my face and head after she bit me when I was in the process of restraining her from taking alcohol,” said Tariro.
Ms Ndiraya granted the two siblings’ prayer and ordered Tabitha to keep peace with them.
Online Reporter