Woman beats child to death over R1

A CHITUNGWIZA woman who beat up her 10-year-old niece to death for stealing R1 was last Friday jailed for three years after she pleaded guilty to the offence.

Anna Chinoshava (30) from Zengeza 3 was initially jointly charged with Monica Chingono (32) who, however, was convicted on a lesser charge of assault and ordered to do 420 hours of community service.

Chingono who was a tenant at the same residence as Chinoshava denied the allegations through her lawyer Farai Ruzive of Nyawo Ruzive Attorneys saying: "On the day in question Monica Chingono was called by Chinoshava at around 1800 hours after she had been exasperated by the now deceased's conduct and that she had reached her wit's end".

He added that Chingono administered four light strokes to the girl which led to the now deceased telling them where she had hidden the money.

"She administered four light strokes on deceased hand who then divulged that she had hidden the money in the sofa".

Prosecutor Joice Fusire told the court that on November 6 last year the now deceased girl stole R1 from Chinovasha as she was leaving for school.

When she came back from school Chinoshava quizzed the minor over the missing money and later assaulted her with a piece of wood and electrical cable. Chingono later joined in assaulting the girl until she became unconscious. The girl succumbed to the injuries caused by assault at around midnight, leading to the pair's arrest.