MUTARE — A Chipinge woman strangled her 18-month-old son, cut off his ear and sold it to a Mozambican traditional healer for $10.
The incident occurred sometime in June last year. Hofisi was approached by a Mozambican-based traditional healer identified only as Mayeza who allegedly asked her to kill the toddler and sell his ear to him.
The traditional healer wanted to use the ear for ritual purposes.
Hofisi reportedly agreed and took her son into a nearby bush where she strangled him. She then cut off his left ear and sold it to the traditional healer for $10.
The offence came to light that same month after neighbours became curious following Hofisi’s failure to properly account for her son’s whereabouts.
The neighbours reported the matter to security guards at Southdown Estate who quizzed her until she divulged her spine-chilling deal with the traditional healer.
The guards took the matter to the police, leading to Hofisi’s arrest.
Hofisi appeared before High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa yesterday and was convicted on her plea of guilty to culpable homicide. She was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, but will serve five after one year was suspended on condition of good behaviour.
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The State had initially preferred a murder charge against her, but later altered the charge to culpable homicide due to inconsistencies in witnesses’ testimonies during trial.
During investigations, police discovered the child dumped in the bush where it lay unburied. A post-mortem report revealed the child had died due to haemorrhage.
Christine Nyamaropa prosecuted.
