By Meditation Mposi
A robber recently stabbed a four-year-old infant with a screwdriver in suspected frustration after the boy’s mother fled from the assailant during the attack.
The incident, which happened near Mutimurefu Prison led to the robber being apprehended just moments after the brutal attack while looking for transport at a bus top, with the help of the boy’s father together with some prison officers.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident of robbery that happened at Mutimurefu.
“I confirm the robbery that happened in the bush near Mutimurefu. The robber was caught and will soon appear in court,” Dhewa said.
Circumstances are that on October 14 at around 1800hours Susan Mandike (24) of Hwendedzo Village, Chief Musara, Masvingo was going home using a path which went through the bush in the company of her four-year-old son.
After walking for some metres from the main road, Mandike met Stanford Zhou (24) of Nehosho Section Senga Gweru who had accosted the pair, and he took out two screw drivers demanding money from Mandike.
Fearing for her life, Mandike dropped the groceries she was carrying and a handbag before running away, leaving the child behind.
Zhou then stabbed the child twice with a screw driver in the back. From a safe distance, Mandike then called her husband who worked near the place for help.
At the same time, Zhou then released the child, searched Mandike’s handbag and took USD$40, and went to the bus stop near Mutimurefu to find transport.
Mandike’s husband quickly arrived with a car and on their way to the police station at the bus stop they saw Zhou waiting for transport.
With the help of the Prison Officers, Zhou was caught and taken to Masvingo Rural Police Station.
The child was taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital, was treated and discharged on the same day.
