Woman jailed 12 months for child abuse

Tendai Gukutikwa

A 27-YEAR-OLD woman from Marange, Manicaland Province, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges of ill-treating and neglecting her daughter.

The case, which garnered significant public outrage, centres around a video that surfaced online, showing the mother assaulting her daughter with her hands and legs tied.

Mutare provincial magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, presided over the case, where the woman, from Mt Zonwe in Odzi, was found guilty under Section 7 (1) of the Child Protection Act.

In light of her guilty plea, the court decided to suspend half of her sentence due to the circumstances.

Of her 12-month sentence, six months were suspended on the condition of good behaviour, while the remaining six will be served through 240 hours of community service at Chiwereweshe Primary School in Marange.

During sentencing, Magistrate Ndiraya condemned the woman’s actions, emphasising the duty of parents to protect and nurture their children.

Prosecutor Mr Mubvumbi detailed the events leading to the conviction.

He stated that the abuse stemmed from the child’s refusal to wash dishes. In a fit of anger, the mother tied her daughter’s hands and legs with torn cloth and subsequently struck her multiple times with a sjambok, a traditional whip.

The violent incident took place in July 2025, in Mt Zonwe Village 28, Chief Marange.

The court heard that after the mother’s angry tirade, the child attempted to distance herself, but the mother pursued and apprehended her.

Mr Mubvumbi recounted how the convict followed her daughter for about 100 metres before inflicting the brutal punishment.

The abuse only came to light when the shocking video circulated on social media, prompting a public outcry and leading to the woman’s arrest.

The child sustained visible injuries, including swelling on her back, legs and face. Notably, she was not medically examined following the assault, which raised further concerns about her well-being.

Mr Mubvumbi described the mother’s actions as unlawful and deeply troubling, reflecting a severe breach of parental responsibility.