Stepmother denies inserting sticks into child's privates

A WOMAN from Bulawayo allegedly inserted her fingers and a stick into her two stepdaughters' private parts.

The woman, aged 20, yesterday pleaded not guilty to aggravated indecent assault charges when she appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla.

She was remanded in custody to December 3 for continuation of trial. The accused allegedly abused the victims aged seven and 10 years when they were left under her custody.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said the first incident occurred sometime last year.

"Sometime last year in the afternoon, complainant (10) was playing outside her father's home. The stepmother called the complainant into the house, pushed her onto the bed, covered her with a blanket and undressed her," said Mr Manyiwa.

She allegedly inserted her fingers into complainant's genitals without her consent."

The prosecutor said on August 21 this year at around 9:30AM, the accused allegedly assaulted and undressed the seven-year-old girl. She thereafter allegedly inserted a stick into her privates until she started bleeding.

The accused said she did not abuse the children but suspected they could have been raped.

"I do not understand why it is said I did such a thing. What I remember is the day their father told me to check on the 10-year-old daughter who was failing to sit properly. When I asked her what was wrong she did not say anything. I took her to our neighbour who checked her and suspected that she was raped," she said.