Mutoko Man Beats Son to Death Over Bread, Meat and a Jacket
A horrifying act of family violence shocked Nyerenyere Village in Mutoko last Tuesday, when a man allegedly beat his own son to death, accusing him of stealing food and clothes.
According to police and family reports, Orchard Muchemwa, with help from his two brothers, Batsirai and Shine Nyerenyere, allegedly tortured 20-year-old Major Muchemwa after suspecting him of stealing a loaf of bread, a small portion of meat, and a jacket. The three men reportedly tied the young man to a tree, stripped him naked, poured cold water on him and then took turns to beat him with sticks.
The brutal beating was captured in a 90-second video, in which Major is seen begging for mercy. Instead of stopping, the attackers are said to have celebrated while filming. The group reportedly claimed they were disciplining the boy based on a Bible verse that encourages fathers to correct their children.
Two of the suspects—Orchard and Batsirai—have appeared in court facing attempted murder charges and were granted bail at US$100 each. Shine Nyerenyere is still on the run.
Tragically, the beating proved fatal. Major managed to drag himself to his bedroom after the assault, but died in his sleep from his injuries.
His sister, Ebby Muchemwa, said the family is still in shock and is demanding justice. She acknowledged that her brother wasn’t perfect but said nothing could justify the way he was treated.
She said Major had once taken her shoes but had returned them after being scolded, and had never stolen from her again. Even in the case that led to his death, the stolen jacket was later found and returned to its owner.
Ebby said she was heartbroken that her own father had done this.
“As his elder sister, I am not justifying his actions, but the way he was assaulted was fatal to the extent that after the attacks, he could not even walk. This was barbaric. I could not help it when I saw Major after the assault. He asked to be led to his bedroom where he died in his sleep from the injuries sustained from the assault. I am heartbroken. How can a father beat up his own child to such an extent all because of a loaf of bread, less than a kg of meat and a jacket? They all have to face the law and despite being granted bail which we felt was too weak from the courts, we want them to be punished for taking my brothers’ life,” said Ebby.
The beating allegedly started after Major was asked to cook the last piece of meat in the house for his mother’s journey, but failed to present the food. His mother was reportedly planning to carry it as her travel meal. The missing jacket, belonging to Uncle Batsirai, was later recovered in the house.
As of now, burial arrangements have been delayed pending a post-mortem. The family remains devastated, while calls for justice grow louder.
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The post Mutoko Man Beats Son to Death Over Bread, Meat and a Jacket appeared first on iHarare News.
