Man assaults child to punish mother

A CITY man is in the habit of assaulting his nine-year-old child as punishment for the mother's deeds.

Munyaradzi Maliki, who is married to Shupikai Siyamapiki, allegedly insults and assaults their child as a way of punishing his wife whenever the two engage in a misunderstanding.

Munyaradzi was hauled to the Harare civil court by his wife who is seeking for a protection order.

Problems between the two originated when Shupikai applied for maintenance for the child.

Soon after being ordered to pay maintenance by the court Munyaradzi moved out and started to rent the room next to the one they were using.

"He did not want to tell me directly that he no longer loved me but three days after being ordered to pay maintenance he moved out.

He moved into the next room.

"He told me that there was no reason why we should stay together when he pays maintenance, it was no longer worthy for us to be husband and wife.

"After a few days a woman moved in; she told me that she was his new wife."

When Munyaradzi settled with another wife he told Siyamapiki that she and the child had to I leave because they could no longer stay at the I same homestead.

Siyamapiki added: "Now he is in the habit of assaulting the child, he tells him that because your mother has refused to move out so you I have to suffer on her behalf.

"He comes and threatens us; he told us that I we were going to leave in two caskets.

"Whenever the child calls him he does not I respond, he assaults him telling him that he I must not bother him for he is not his father.

"I was assaulted and I reported the matter to I the police who advised me to get a peace order." I

In response Munyaradzi denied the allegations.

"We verbally abuse each other and I do assault the child. I will be doing my duty as father."

Magistrate Trevor Nyatsanza granted the I protection order to Siyamapiki and urged Munyaradzi to stop the child abuse as it was a serious offence.