BY GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA
A 41-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi woman was last week sentenced to 36 months behind bars for defeating the course of justice after she treated lacerations on her 10-year-old daughter’s private parts with methylated spirit to conceal sexual abuse by her lover.
The woman was also convicted for contravening section 7(3) of the Children’s Act Chapter 5.06, which speaks to “ill-treatment or neglect of children and young persons”, after she neglected and exposed her daughter to ill-treatment by leaving her in the custody of her lover, knowing very well that he was sexually abusing her.
She will serve an effective 24 months for both counts after magistrate Constance Mutandwa set aside 12 months on condition of good behaviour.
Her lover is currently serving an effective 18 years for raping her step-daughter.
Prosecutor Clara Nyasha Dzirutsva told the court that Constable Angela Mahachi received a tip-off that the woman’s lover, who is a stepfather to the victim, was continuously raping the teenage girl.
Mahachi interviewed the complainant about the abuse case and she opened up, informing the police officer that she had reported the matter to her mother, but she just treated her and ignored the matter. Upon further investigation, the mother said she had concealed information about her daughter’s abuse in a bid to protect her l marriage.
