A man from Shurugwi is facing murd3r charges for the d3ath of his three-month-old stepdaughter.
Reports say he fed the baby acid, usually used in gold mining, which caused her to d!e shortly after.
Tatenda Masunda, 24, appeared in court before Magistrate Patricia Gwetsai and has to remain in custody.
He is scheduled to return to court on November 15, 2024, as authorities investigate how this tragedy happened.
The incident reportedly took place last Friday. Masunda was arr3st3d in Chegutu on Tuesday after running away from Shurugwi right after the child’s d3ath.
Masunda worked at Nash 1 Mine in Shurugwi and lived with his partner, Muchaneta Zindera, and her baby, Tatenda Junior Hwacha.
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It’s claimed that on the day of the incident, Masunda came home with a bottle containing 200ml of acid and hid it in their home.
That morning, Zindera left around 5:00 a.m. to wash clothes at a borehole about 2 kilometers away.
Before she left, Masunda asked if he could look after the baby while she was gone.
Once he was alone, he allegedly gave the acid to the infant.
Shortly after, the baby started crying. Masunda then took her back to her mother before quickly packing his things and fleeing to Chegutu.
Zindera noticed her baby was getting worse and rushed her to Zvamabande Hospital.
The baby was later transferred to Shurugwi District Hospital but sadly d!ed upon arrival.
After a search, Masunda was found in Chegutu on Tuesday and was brought back to Shurugwi to face murd3r charges.
Prosecutor Tafadzwa Guzete gave details of the alleged crime and Masunda’s actions in court.
