admin
Sukoluhle Ndlovu
A 19-year-old woman from Zvishavane burnt her four-year-old stepdaughter with a red hot spoon accusing her of stealing relish from the pot.
Yolanda Mudyandigere of Maglas suburb pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga.
In mitigation, she told the court that she was trying to discipline her stepdaughter who had stolen matemba which were yet to be served, from the pot.
“Your worship, I was trying to discipline her because she had stolen relish from the pot which was meant for supper. I made her touch the hot spoon so that she does not repeat the same thing in future,” she said.
Magistrate Wochiunga, however, castigated Mudyandigere saying she was an irresponsible mother who instead of protecting the child, harmed her.
“As a mother to this four-year-old child, your duty was simply to protect her from any harm, but instead of doing so, you went on to harm her yourself.
“This court finds you guilty as charged and you’re therefore sentenced to eight months in prison. Four months are suspended on condition that you do not commit a similar crime in the next three years.
“The remaining four months are put aside on condition that you complete four weeks of community service at Shabanie Mine Primary School,” said Wochiunga.
On October 31 this year, Mudyandigere took an aluminium cooking spoon and put it in a fire. When the spoon became red hot, she forced the child to hold it with her bare hands.
Online Reporter