SHARON NYAYA
MBERENGWA-Tariro Gweshe (20) of Mapako Village under Chief Mataruse in Mberengwa District allegedly forced her three year old stepson to drink poison after he was left in her custody.
Gweshe appeared before Mberengwa Magistrate Charity Tonongera on Tuesday May, 2 2023 facing charges of contravening section 7(1) of Children’s Act Chapter 05 06 “ill treatment of a child” after she made her stepson drink an unknown substance.
Gweshe pleaded guilty but she was denied bail and remanded in custody to 16 May 2023. The unknown substance was taken to the a laboratory for testing.
The court heard that, on April 27, Gweshe was left in custody of the minor by her mother in-law, Christina Moyo who was going to church. While at home she gave the minor an unknown substance believed to be poisonous and he became unconscious.
Ali Mutausi stood in for the State.
At around 3pm Gweshe followed Moyo to the church carrying the minor who was unconscious on her back. The minor was smelling an unknown substance suspected to be poison. Moyo asked for milk from other church members which they forced him to drink and he vomited and quickly rushed him to Mnene Hospital for treatment.
Gweshe was interviewed by a nurse and she confessed that she gave the child King Stallion Beer (Hotti) and he became drunk.
They called the Police leading to Gweshe’s arrest.
