Woman batters stepdaughter for lying

A 27-YEAR-OLD Plumtree woman has been jailed for battering her six-year-old stepdaughter who was admitted to hospital after sustaining severe injuries.

Patience Ncube of Madube Extension pleaded guilty of physically abusing the minor when she appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa. She was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

It emerged in court that Ncube had abused the young girl several times during her father's absence after accusing her of lying about her to her husband.

Each time the woman would arm herself with an electric cord and order the complainant's younger sister to stand guard at the door and alert her if the father arrived.

The court also heard that each time Ncube assaulted the girl, she threatened her not to report the matter to her father.

Ncube admitted the abuse of her stepdaughter but indicated that she was disciplining her.
"I did beat her up with an electric cord but it was only to discipline her because she was telling my husband lies about me. I do not know what caused the severe injuries which she sustained because I just beat her lightly.

"It is also not true that I constantly beat her up as I would never do such a thing to my husband's child as she is like my own child," said Ncube.

The abuse came to light after the girl reported the matter to her father.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said the girl opened up to her father on 8 March after he noticed a swelling on her face.

Ncube, in an attempt to conceal the offence, alleged that her stepdaughter had accidentally fallen resulting the swelling.

"Sometime in March, Ncube picked up information that her stepdaughter had told her father lies about her. She became angry and took a switch which she used to strike the complainant several times on her body.

"Ncube ordered her younger stepdaughter to stand by the door and look out for her father and inform her if he returned," said Mr Shawarira. He said Ncube went on to kick the child until she fell down and sustained a swollen forehead.

Mr Shawarira said she threatened to assault her stepdaughter further if she reported the matter to her father.
He said the complainant's father noticed some swelling on his daughter's forehead and upon inquiring was told that she had been attacked by Ncube.

Her father also discovered that his daughter had injuries all over the body as a result of being attacked by her stepmother several times.

The matter was reported to the police resulting in Ncube's arrest.

In passing sentence, Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa lashed out at Ncube for the heartless torture of the juvenile.

"You really hurt this child in a bad way and you deserve a custodial sentence. Your actions prove that you are a heartless woman who cannot assume the role of being a proper mother.

"Even though you are using discipline as an excuse for your actions, a normal person would never do what you did in the name of discipline. You are a bad influence upon these children," he said.