Nqobile Tshili and Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporters
A DOMESTIC dispute turned tragic when a 25-year-old man from Insuza in Matabeleland North fatally struck his seven-month-old baby with a hosepipe while trying to beat up his teenage wife during a row over boiled maize.

Villagers said the incident happened on Monday evening.

Jefrey Tshuma is said to have had a scuffle with Rejoice Sibanda, 16, over dried maize grain (amagwadla/mangai) that the couple had prepared for supper.

The meal was allegedly eaten by goats while Sibanda had gone to fetch some water and ask for mealie-meal from neighbours. The Chronicle yesterday visited Insuza, Hlanganani Village 4B area, where shocked villagers had converged to bury the child, Nomsa Nokwakha Tshuma.

Jefrey’s father, Masayi Tshuma, 62, said his son had an altercation over food with his wife leading to a fight.

“The fight was over food. It seems my daughter-in-law was carrying the child when my son tried to beat her. As she evaded the attack, my granddaughter was struck instead,” said Tshuma.

The child is said to have died on its way to the hospital.

Tshuma said the couple’s food problem was the major reason for the fight. “I wasn’t home when it happened but they didn’t have mealie-meal. They tried to source it from the neighbours but failed. That’s how the scuffle started,” he said.

Village head for the area, Mgezelwa Mpofu, said the couple tried to conceal the matter as they told villagers that the child had fallen headlong.

“We’re just from the police. That’s where the whole truth emerged. They had told us that the child fell but police investigated the matter and we were told the actual story. Medical reports also confirmed that the child had been killed,” said Mpofu.

He expressed concern over the unnecessary loss of life saying couples should approach the elderly when faced with challenges.

“This is a sad incident. It’s clear the man never intended to kill the child. After realising that they had hurt the child they tried to rush her to hospital although she died on her way to hospital,” he said.

A villager, Paul Ncube, 74, said the area was drought-stricken and needed food relief urgently.

“We’re wallowing in poverty. The government must intervene as soon as possible. We’re starving. It’s sad that our plea is being made after such a tragedy,” said Ncube.

Assistant Inspector Mandlenkosi Ndlovu of Matabeleland North Police said: “We arrested a man in connection with the death of an infant. In trying to conceal the matter, they had said the child died after a short illness. However, investigations by police revealed that the child had bruises and a swollen face. Further investigations revealed that the child was hit with a hosepipe while the couple was fighting.”

Asst Insp Ndlovu implored members of the public to desist from fighting over petty issues as lives were being lost unnecessarily.

You Might Also Like

Comments