Mum murders child for losing school shoes

in court

Masvingo police have arrested a 35-year-old woman for allegedly murdering her eight-year-old daughter last week after the child came back home without her school shoes.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tinaye Matake confirmed the incident, saying the woman was assisting police with investigations.

“We have arrested Sarudzai Mahla-maki and she is in police custody.

“She will appear in court soon facing a murder charge,” said Inspector Matake.

On January 24, Mahlamaki of Maride village near Renco Mine went for a beer drink and left her two children, Pamela (8) and Admire (15), herding cattle. She returned home around 7pm drunk.

“Mahlamaki was served supper by her children and later ordered them to go to bed. When the they were in the bedroom, she asked Pamela about her school shoes,” said Inspector Matake.

Inspector Matake said the girl told her mother that she had lost the shoes in the afternoon while herding cattle.

“Mahlamaki took a knobkerrie from under the bed and started hitting her daughter until she lost consciousness,” he said.

Inspector Matake said the mother thought that her daughter was duping her and started poking her with the knobkerrie.

“When she realised that her daughter was dead, Mahlamaki tried to sleep over it and also forced her son to do the same,” said inspector Matake.

However, neighbours who heard the young girl screaming rushed to the local police who, in turn, went to Mahlamaki’s house and discovered the young girl dead.

Inspector Matake urged members of the public to use rational measures when disciplining their children.

“Parents must desist from solving family matters while under the influence of alcohol and members of the public must avoid keeping dangerous weapons in their houses as they run the risk of using them against each other,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for a renowned Zaka apostolic sect faith healer who allegedly raped one of his patients on their way to an evening sermon last week.

It is alleged the faith healer abandoned his sanctuary in the middle of the night after committing the offence. Inspector Matake said police had intensified a manhunt for the suspect.

“A Zaka apostolic sect healer Ericanos Marufu (37) is wanted for raping one of his patients on January 27 and as police we have launched a manhunt after he fled his temple the very night he committed his offence.

“From the evidence and reports we have, Marufu raped his patient once after he failed to convince her to be his one-night lover,” said Inspector Matake.
Marufu, a renowned healer in the Zaka area, was approached by his patient seeking help.

Inspector Matake said the patient, who was accompanied by her young sister around 9pm, was told by the healer that she needed to be baptised in the nearby river.

“The young sister who had accompanied the patient was told by Marufu to remain at the sanctuary as her sister needed to go for a baptism at a nearby river in Gumbo area,” he said.

However, Inspector Matake said on the way to the river, Marufu proposed love to the patient, but she turned him down.

“Marufu is then said to have manhandled the patient and raped her once besides a footpath on the way to the river,” said Inspector Matake.