Parents arrested for forcing girl (14) to marry boy (15)

by Staff reporter

2012 May 31 12:36:22 | 1982 Views

The case of a Bikita family which was recently reported as having handed over their 14-year-old daughter to another family as appeasement to avenging spirits for the murder of a man by the family's son has taken a new twist after the families concerned were arrested by the police. The families will appear in court next week facing charges of contravening Child Protection and Adoption Act.

Recently villagers in Bengura village under chief Mazungunye were left tongue tied when a Macheke family handed over their innocent daughter to the Chireya family to appease avenging spirits after their son Masimba Macheke had allegedly stabbed Kudzai Chireya to death. The ceremony was allegedly attended by both families who conducted the 'hand over' where the Form Three boy was given a wife aged 14! The girl who is believed to have been stopped from attending school was doing Form Two at the same school.

Contacted for comment, Masvingo Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Charity Mazula could not deny nor confirm the arrest of the families but promised to find out. "It's not to our knowledge as of now but we will check to find out the correct details," said Ass Insp Mazula.

However, police sources at Bikita district police headquarters confirmed that an arrest of the families concerned was effected after media reported on the issue, adding that complaints were raised from organisations that deal with children. It is alleged that sometime in August of the year 1998, Masimba of Bengura village allegedly stabbed and killed Kudzai of Mberikwazvo village under Chief Mukanganwi.

"The two had a quarrel over contracts of digging wells in the area. They had a fight and when Macheka realised that he was being overpowered, he drew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Chireya several times on his body, leading to his death. This took place in 1998 during summer," the source narrated.

The source further said Macheke was accusing Chireya of sabotaging him on contracts that he said were from his clients.

"Since then, the Macheke family has been haunted by the incident and a barrage of misfortunes were befalling them year in and out leaving them with no option but to appease the avenging spirits," the source revealed.

Marry Force

Source: zimkasi.com