Baby girl (2) killed for soiling blankets

A TWO year-old Zimbabwean baby girl was allegedly murdered for soiling her blankets, police have confirmed.

Zimbabwean police in Mwenezi area said they have since arrested a 39-year-old man from Nuanetsi Ranch.

Police spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero said the incident happened last Friday, but the suspect, Million Runhare, was arrested the following day. The child's battered corpse was recovered from Runhare's hut where he allegedly kept it overnight.

"We got a tipoff about the incident and we attended to the scene on 2 February.

"We have since arrested the suspect Runhare and upon interrogation he said that he fatally assaulted his daughter because she was soiling her pants," Zhanero said.

He said the police discovered the corpse with fresh and old wounds, as well as a wooden stick lying beside the deceased infant.

"The deceased had deep cuts on buttocks, her back, ribs and other moderate wounds all over her body. Some of the wounds were not fresh, meaning that the kid was a victim of (constant) abuse by her father. She had been killed a day before," he added.

The infant's body was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital for a post mortem. Runhare is expected to appear in court soon.