By Timothy Makohliso
POLICE have arrested a man in Lower Gweru for allegedly killing his 18 month old baby girl by pouring hot water on her because she could not walk.
Golden Madzivire, 31, from Matina Village, Headman Nkawana’s area under Chief Sogwala, also allegedly threatened to kill his wife, Delani Ngolela, if she revealed the matter to the public before secretly burying the child.
Sources within the police said Madzivire, who apparently was not happy with his daughter’s handicap, started systematically torturing the child using steam from a hot stone immersed in boiling water. The sources said Madzivire would then draw the child’s face close to the stone and steaming water and force her to inhale.
Madzivire yesterday appeared before Gweru magistrate, Florence Nago, facing a murder charge.
He was remanded in custody to September and advised to apply for bail at the High court.
Prosecuting, Daniel Tafuma said on 10 April this year at his homestead, Madzivire asked his wife why their child was still not able to walk at 18 months.
Tafuma said the wife told him it was part of nature and only God knows why.
The court heard that Madzivire went on to torture the child with steam from a hot stone immersed in boiling water.
Tafuma said the child was made to inhale the steam and sustained serious burns on the face.
She did not receive any medical attention, the court heard.
Tafuma said Madzivire threatened his wife with murder if she dared tell anyone that he was ill-treating their child.
The court also heard that on 7 July this year, Madzivire was left in sole custody of the child by Ngolela who had gone to Ntabamhlope Hospital in Lower Gweru with another of their children who was sick. Tafuma said Madzivire then boiled water and poured it on the child who died on the spot. He quickly buried the child on the banks of a stream.
Tafuma said after he buried the child, Madzivire again threatened his wife with murder if she told anyone about the incident.
The court heard that the matter only surfaced on 13 August this year when the officer-in-charge at Maboleni police station, Inspector Samuel Tadzaushe, received a tip off from members of the public.
Insp Tadzaushe interviewed Ngolela who disclosed that her husband had killed their child.
The police went to the stream and exhumed the body of the child as part of their investigations. The Chronicle
