2nd March, 2019
A 14-year old boy is on the run after allegedly severely assaulting his sister, 6, and then went on to throw her into a river resulting in her drowning in Binga area of Zimbabwe.
The boy was last seen with his kindergarten sister on their way to school.
He allegedly lied to his family members that he had left his sister at Gongo River, where she was bathing after she had messed herself due to a running stomach but they searched for her in vain.
When family members conducted another search the next day, the boy whose name has been withheld as he is a minor, fled when her body was found.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
Chief Dobola said sources within the family informed him about the juvenile’s hatred for his sister who had recently relocated from Tsholotsho where their mother is now married.
Last week, the juvenile is alleged to have seriously assaulted his sister and she missed school for a week, accusing her of speaking in Ndebele in a Tonga community.
“I’m told last week he allegedly beat up his sister but the family concealed the matter. They nursed the girl at home and she did not attend school the whole week. When she finally recovered this week and went to school, this unfortunate incident then happened. I am told the two were among three other children on their way to school when he dismissed the other children and committed the crime,” said the chief.
While they were in a bush near Gongo River, Chief Dobola said, the boy instructed the three other children to run to school and check if lessons had started.
“They only returned later during the day and found him in the area close to the river and he joined them home. Realising that she was missing, the family embarked on a search which went on until other villagers were engaged. He told them that he had last seen his sister bathing in the river after having messed herself following a running stomach,” said Chief Dobola.
The Chronicle reports that it was only when they found her small body in the river they realized he was missing.
The body was bruised and it is suspected that the girl was severely beaten up before she was drowned.
–iharare.com