Mother beats daughter to death for ‘wasting cooking oil’

BY NEW ZIANA  

SHAMVA – A nine-year-old girl from Shamva was brutally killed by her mother, who accused her of wasting cooking oil and maize meal for child's play (mahumbwe).

The victim, Ropafadzo Meki, was allegedly beaten with an electric cable by her mother, Sinalence Kufandirori, 35, on the third of this month at Maxton Farm, where they lived. 

Kufandirori was arrested on Saturday and is facing murder charges.

According to the police, Meki had taken some cooking oil and maize meal from the kitchen and used them to play “mahumbwe,” a game that involves making mock food and utensils from mud. 

This incensed her mother, who assaulted her until she collapsed and died.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident and urged the public to respect human life.

“We have a sad incident that occurred in Shamva, where a 35-year-old woman Sinalence Kufandirori beat up her nine-year-old daughter to death accusing her of using cooking oil and mealie meal to play Mahumbwe on the 3rd of this month at Maxton Farm. This is so sad, so as the police we want to implore the public to respect the sacredness of human life,” he said.

Legislators have of late expressed concern over the rising number of murder cases in the country and called for harsher penalties for the perpetrators.