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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A CHIREDZI man is on the run after he allegedly fatally struck his seven-year-old son on the head for playing with peers in the neighbourhood, police have said.

Christopher Manyuke, 41, of Village 6, Bangala Dam, in Triangle who neighbours say is a man in charge of his faculties and doesn’t drink alcohol, picked up a log from the yard and used it to strike his son, Taurai, on the head resulting in the boy bleeding profusely from the mouth and nose.

Police said Taurai died on the spot.

Triangle member-in-charge, Inspector Fanuel Machiya, confirmed the incident which occurred on Thursday at around 8 PM.

“The suspect who in this case is the boy’s father fled the scene after committing the crime. Police have since launched a manhunt,” said Insp Machiya.

Neighbours said on the day in question Manyuke who lived with his son after divorcing the boy’s mother arrived home from his workplace where he was employed as a sugarcane cutter at Scot Block, Triangle.

They said his son, Taurai, was not home when he arrived.

“After some few minutes at around 8PM, Taurai arrived and upon being asked where he had gone, the boy told Manyuke that he had been playing with his peers in the compound.

“His son’s response angered him. Manyuke picked up a log and struck Taurai on the head and the boy died on the spot,” said Sibonginkosi Mazwezwe, a neighbour.

Mazwezwe said upon realising that he had killed his son, Manyuke fled the scene.

He said neighbours who heard Taurai screaming for help, went to investigate.

“Manyuke quickly fled the scene but not before he was spotted by neighbours.

“We then went to his homestead where we found Taurai lying dead in a pool of blood. Blood was oozing from the head, mouth and nose.

“We also tried to administer first aid through mouth to mouth resuscitation but it was too late as the boy had already died,” he said.

A report was made to Triangle police who attended the scene and took the body to Chiredzi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Insp Machiya has appealed to members of the public who may have information on Manyuke’s whereabouts to assist police with their investigations.

He said those with information that can lead to the arrest of Manyuke should contact him on these numbers, 0738793694/0771543653/0715196341.