by Gideon Madzikatidze
ZVISHAVANE – A six year old girl, Praise Tsomeka from Kasvoro village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane died following a two-day repeated beating by her uncle, Takudzwa Wellington Chimuka (28) whilst in the process of teaching her how to write her correct name spelling.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Midlands provincial spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the beatings were allegedly carried out using Mopane tree switches and a rubber sjambok for two consecutive days, (18 and 19 January 2026).
“It is alleged that on 18 January 2026 at about 17:00 hours, the suspect Takudzwa Wellington Chimutsa (28) returned from work and started to teach the now deceased, Praise Tsomeka, his cousin daughter to write her name. During the process, he was beating her repeatedly using mopane switches if she failed to write her name correctly,” Mahoko said.
“On 19 January 2026, the same process happened again and this time when the switches broke, Chimutsa sought for and used a rubber sjambok. On 21 January 2025 Praise began showing signs of weakness and experiencing excruciating pain,” Mahoko added.
Mahoko alleged that upon noticing their niece’s deteriorating condition, Chimutsa and his wife then took her to a prophet who prayed for her before they later took her to Zvishavane District Hospital where Tsomeka died upon admission.
Police preliminary investigations led to the arrest of Chimuka in whose custody the late Tsomeka was staying.
Meanwhile, Mahoko reiterated the call for parents and guardians of children to always treat them in a human manner, warning that it is not all perceived wrongs that are corrected by chastisement.