Zimpapers Logo

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
AN 82-year-old man from Masvingo will spend the next six months in jail for using a home-made knife to circumcise his 16-year-old nephew.

Kufakunesu Pagwaringira of Chief Murinye communal lands forcibly tied the boy’s legs before reaching for his manhood which he circumcised under unhygienic and painful circumstances.

Appearing before regional magistrate Judith Zulu yesterday, Pagwaringira pleaded guilty to the physical abuse charge.

He pleaded with the court to be lenient saying he was too old for jail life and was a bread winner.

Zulu, however, sentenced him to six effective months in prison.

The complainant was treated using herbs after the brutal circumcision but this did not help the situation as his manhood continued to swell.

The old man said he had to circumcise his nephew because of unconfirmed reports that the boy was being exposed to abuse by commercial sex workers.

He said he had wanted to help him to develop some form of immunity so that he would not contract sexually transmitted infections whenever he was abused.

For the State, Shamiso Masokovere said last month Pagwaringira called the boy into his house and asked him to put on nice clothes since they wanted to go to church and he complied.

“On May 17 at around 1100hours Pagwaringira called the boy and asked him to change his clothes as they were going to church that day.

“The boy put on nice clothes and the pair went out with Pagwaringira leading the way under the guise they were going to church,” said Masokovere

Pagwaringira instead took the boy to a mountain where he suddenly got hold of his legs before tying them together with a rope.

He then forced the boy to lie down on a rock facing upwards and removed his pair of trousers. He drew a home-made knife from his pocket and cut off the boy’s foreskin after which he smeared some herbs on the bleeding wound.

The court heard that after the incident the two went home but the following day police were tipped off by members of the public leading to Pagwaringira’s arrest.

The knife that he used for the circumcision was recovered.

The boy was referred to Masvingo General Hospital where he was treated.