Patricia Moyo
Zim GBC News Reporter
STEPMOTHERS have been notoriously known to abuse their partner’s children.
This time around in Bulawayo, the abuse went too far and a six year old girl lost her life at the hands of a stepmother who vigorously attacked the minor for refusing to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
Police say on May, 26, 2023 the deceased was awakened by her stepmother Priscilla Muchape 33 of Northend suburb, who allegedly assaulted the six year old step daughter after she refused to go to the toilet. This angered the 33 year old who resorted to banging the victim against the wall.
Muchape is currently still on the run after she and her husband David Zhou gave false information to nurses at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
The couple had initially notified the medical staff that their daughter is an epileptic patient suffering from fits, who collapsed and banged her head against the concrete hall. Now the arm of the law is stretching far and wide to try, and locate the fugitive.
In the meantime the husband, who is that father to the late minor, is already behind bars.
Bulawayo Police Provincial Liaison Officer Inspector Abedinigo Ncube is appealing to information that could lead to the arrest of the accused.
“Police is appealing for information that may assist in the location of Priscilla Muchepa a female adult aged 33 of Northend, Bulawayo who murdered her step child a 6 year old daughter.” Said Inspector Ncube.
“Circumstances are that on the 26th of May 2023, the now deceased and her elder sister an 8 year old were awakened by their stepmother Pricilla Muchape during the night to go to the toilet. The now deceased refused to wake up and this angered their stepmother who assaulted her with open hands, kicking her stomach and pushed her against the wall. The now deceased collapsed after screaming once. She sustained head injuries which lead to her death.”
Postmortem results that were carried out revealed that the girl’s death was caused by injuries (fresh cut on the left ear, legs, feet and a swollen head) inflicted on her body by the stepmother.
Insp. Ncube further said,
“The accused person disappeared soon after committing the offense and her whereabouts are unknown.”
The police have since appealed to members of the public with any information which can lead to the arrest of Muchape to report in their nearest police station.
Zim GBC News©2023