'Vampire' Granny bites grandson

An Inyanga from Bulilima dubbed the vampire granny for allegedly biting her seven year old grandson and drawing blood to discipline him on several occasions, has been arrested.

The boy's teacher at Thambana Primary School noticed the scars on the boy's hands and notified the police.

The Inyanga, Elizabeth Moyo (59) of Madlambuzi admitted to biting and thrashing the boy with a leather whip, before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.

She was found guilty of two counts of child abuse.

Ruvetsa sentenced Moyo to six months imprisonment of which three were suspended on condition that she does not within the period commit an offence of a the same nature.

The remaining three months were further suspended on condition that she performs 105 hours of community service at Thambana Primary School.

Moyo denied sucking the boy's blood and said she was punishing her grandson for misbehaving.

She wept in court as she repeated that she had not meant to harm her grandson and explained she had not realised she was being too harsh.

Elisha Mazorodze the prosecutor, said the Moyo severely whipped the boy last year and bit his hands, drawing blood after the boy dropped a plate.

He said Moyo habitually bit and whipped her grandson without mercy.

Mazorodze told the court that last month Moyo found her grandson bathing at about 6 pm.

He said Moyo demanded to know why he was taking a bath in the evening and bit both his hands in anger before whipping him, when he failed to explain.

The magistrate said the fact that the boy did not have anyone else to look after him, saved Moyo from going to prison.