A 43-year-old woman from Mberengwa has been sentenced to an effective eight years in prison after a traditional procedure involving a razor blade and the child...
A 43-year-old woman from Mberengwa has been sentenced to an effective eight years in prison after a traditional procedure involving a razor blade and the child’s tongue resulted in the death of a young girl.
Chipiwa Majasi, of Village 3, Kugutakurima under Chief Mposi in Mberengwa, was convicted of culpable homicide by the High Court sitting in Gweru.
The court sentenced Majasi to 10 years in prison, with two years suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within five years. She will therefore serve an effective eight years in prison.
The case arose from an incident on March 5 involving Ruvarashe Mafikeni, who was at Runyararo Complex in Vanguard, Mberengwa, when her mother invited Majasi to the family home.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Majasi had been invited to perform a traditional incision procedure intended to address what the family described as the child’s speech problem.
The court heard that Majasi used a razor blade to cut the lower membrane beneath the child’s tongue before leaving the residence.
The child subsequently fell asleep. She was later found without signs of life at around 2pm and was taken to Mberengwa District Hospital.
Medical personnel at the hospital pronounced the child dead.
The incident was subsequently reported to the police, leading to Majasi’s arrest and the criminal proceedings that followed.
A post-mortem examination established that the child died from haemorrhagic shock associated with a lacerated sublingual artery and an injury to the tongue.
The medical findings provided evidence of the serious injuries suffered during the procedure and formed part of the evidence considered by the court.
Majasi was ultimately convicted of culpable homicide rather than murder. The distinction is significant because culpable homicide generally concerns a death caused unlawfully through conduct that amounts to criminal negligence or recklessness, rather than an allegation that the accused intended to kill.
The sentence means Majasi will spend eight years in prison under the effective term imposed by the High Court, subject to the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence.
The case has also drawn attention to the potential dangers of performing invasive procedures on children outside qualified medical settings.
The NPAZ used the case to caution members of the public against unsafe practices that could result in serious injury or loss of life.
Traditional practices form part of the cultural lives of communities across Zimbabwe, but the circumstances of this case highlight the importance of distinguishing cultural practices from procedures that can cause physical injury.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they depend on adults to make decisions about their care and safety.
Medical procedures involving cutting or other forms of bodily injury can carry risks including bleeding, infection and other complications. Where a child has a health or developmental concern, qualified medical professionals can assess the condition and advise on appropriate treatment.
The court case does not establish that traditional practices generally cause harm. Rather, the evidence in this particular matter concerned a specific procedure, the injuries sustained by the child and the resulting death.
The conviction brings the criminal proceedings against Majasi to an end at the trial level, while the sentence reflects the court’s finding of culpable homicide based on the evidence presented.
The tragedy has also renewed attention on the need for parents and caregivers to seek safe and appropriate assistance when children experience health or developmental concerns.
In cases involving speech difficulties, a child may require assessment by qualified health professionals to determine the underlying cause and whether specialist support is necessary.
The NPAZ said the prosecution remained committed to protecting vulnerable people, particularly children, and urged members of the public to avoid practices that could place lives at risk.
For the Mberengwa community, the case has ended with a custodial sentence after a child’s death during a procedure intended to address a speech-related concern.
Majasi will now serve the effective eight-year prison term imposed by the High Court.
