27-year-old woman has been convicted in Chegutu, Zimbabwe, for child assault after she violently punched her 13-year-old stepson for not folding his blankets.
The Chegutu Magistrates Court delivered the judgment this week, finding the woman guilty of a violent outburst that left the boy with visible injuries.
Court documents detail the events of April 10, when the woman launched into a physical attack on the boy over an unfinished chore. The assault included multiple slaps, repeated punches to the head, and biting. The teenager managed to escape the home in Chegutu’s Industrial Area and report the abuse to authorities. Police promptly arrested the stepmother following his complaint.
After the trial the court sentenced her to 10-month imprisonment. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years, contingent on good behaviour. The remaining six months could be waived if the offender completes 210 hours of community service.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issues of domestic abuse and the vulnerability of stepchildren in some households. Child rights advocates have condemned the violence, stressing that disciplinary matters such as household chores must never lead to physical harm. Some community members have urged the child’s father to closely monitor how his son is treated or consider placing him in the care of his biological mother.
The sentence combines punitive and rehabilitative measures, aiming both to punish the offender and to serve as a deterrent to others, while offering an opportunity for reform through community service.
