Mutoko – A horrifying incident has unfolded in Nyerenyere Village, Mutoko, where a man, aided by his two brothers, allegedly took his own son’s life after accusing him of stealing a loaf of bread, some meat, and a jacket. The act, described as barbaric, has left the family in shock and demanding justice for the deceased.
The victim, 20-year-old Major Muchemwa, was allegedly subjected to a brutal assault by his father, Orchard Muchemwa, and his uncles, Batsirai and Shine Nyerenyere, last Tuesday. The trio accused Major of stealing household groceries and a jacket, leading to the fatal attack.
Orchard Muchemwa and Batsirai Nyerenyere have since appeared in court facing attempted murder charges. They were granted bail of US$100 each, a decision that has further angered the family. Shine Nyerenyere is currently on the run, evading arrest.
According to reports, the three men tied Major to a tree, stripped him of his clothes, and poured cold water over him before taking turns to beat him mercilessly with sticks. The assault, which lasted for over two minutes, was allegedly filmed on one of the attackers’ mobile phones, with the person recording seemingly celebrating the act.
A 90-second clip of the incident reportedly shows Major begging for help and forgiveness from his father as the assault continued. The trio allegedly justified their actions by claiming they were following a Bible scripture that instructs fathers to discipline their children as they see fit.
The family is currently awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination before proceeding with burial arrangements. The results were expected to be released yesterday.
Major’s sister, Ebby Muchemwa, spoke to H-Metro, expressing the family’s shock and grief following the incident. She is adamant that justice must be served for her brother. “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,” Ebby said.
She described the assault as “barbaric,” recounting the scene after the attack. “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.”
Ebby expressed her heartbreak at the thought of her father killing her brother over such trivial items. “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?” she lamented.
She insisted that all those involved must face the consequences of their actions. “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,” she said.
The events leading up to the assault began when Major was asked to prepare the last portion of meat in the house as relish for his mother, who was about to travel. However, he failed to produce the cooked meat when asked. He was also accused of stealing his uncle Batsirai’s jacket, which had been left hanging behind the kitchen door. The jacket was later found and returned to its owner.
Despite acknowledging that Major was sometimes ill-behaved, Ebby maintained that nothing justified his death at the hands of his own father. “I don’t know how I will live with this idea that my father killed my brother, tototya here kugara pamba nekuti vanatinoba. I had a few brushes with my brother Major after he stole some of my shoes,” she said.
Ebby recounted how she had disciplined Major in the past, which had been effective. “After a few flogs and talks he returned the shoes and he never took anything from me again.” She also pointed out that the jacket Major was accused of stealing had been returned, and some of the missing groceries were found at home. “He had returned the same jacket which he was assaulted for after he was found wearing it, some of the missing groceries were also found at home,” she added.
The granting of bail to Orchard Muchemwa and Batsirai Nyerenyere has raised concerns among the family and the wider community, who feel that the punishment does not fit the crime. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation and justice for Major Muchemwa. As the family prepares to lay Major to rest, they remain determined to ensure that those responsible for his death are held accountable for their actions. The case highlights the issue of domestic discipline and the fine line between discipline and abuse, raising questions about the role of parents in shaping their children’s behaviour.
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