A 20-year-old woman, Memory Moyana, is facing murder charges following the death of her four-year-old stepdaughter, Tatenda Moyana.
The arrest comes after a disturbing video of the assault circulated on social media, revealing the horrific abuse the child endured. The incident, which unfolded in Chizhanje, Mabvuku, has sent shockwaves through the community and highlighted the tragic consequences of child abuse.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, ZRP national spokesperson, confirmed Moyana’s arrest and detailed the events leading to the child’s death.
“Preliminary investigations by the police reveal that the suspect, who was the victim’s stepmother, attempted to cover up the heinous crime by claiming that the minor had been attacked by evil spirits,” he stated.
This attempt at deception involved taking the injured child to a self-proclaimed prophet in Ruwa, where she tragically died.
The callous actions didn’t end there. Moyana and her husband, Talent Muchato (26), attempted to secretly bury Tatenda in Mutinhima village, Nyazura, on December 17, 2024. However, their attempt was thwarted by a concerned citizen who reported the matter to the police. “The suspect and her husband…tried to secretly bury the victim…A concerned citizen later made a report to the police,” Commissioner Nyathi explained.
The details of the assault, as recounted by neighbour Lorrein Makore, paint a disturbing picture. Makore first heard Tatenda crying, then saw the child emerge from Moyana’s room with bruises. Later, Tatenda reappeared with soiled clothing, asking for tissues. According to Makore, after Moyana helped her, Moyana pushed Tatenda against the wall, accusing her of soiling herself. Some time later, Makore saw Moyana carrying an unconscious Tatenda.
Instead of seeking immediate medical attention, Moyana and Muchato took the child to a self-proclaimed prophet. The prophet pronounced the child dead, and the couple then attempted to bury the body in Nyazura. This attempt was foiled by police intervention following concerns raised by neighbours.
Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, Harare provincial police spokesperson, provided further details at the time.
“Police arrested a Mabvuku woman for murder. Circumstances are that the accused was a stepmother to the now deceased. Accused was reported to have been physically abusing the now deceased in her neighbourhood. On (Monday), at around 1600 hours, one of their neighbours saw the accused person assaulting the now deceased using open hands.”
Inspector Chakanza continued: “After the beating, the neighbour went to check on the now deceased and found her lying on the bed covered with blankets. She inspected the now deceased and noticed that she had sustained some injuries on the mouth, neck, waist and a bruised back and was having difficulties in breathing.”
Later that evening, Muchato arrived home and found Tatenda unconscious and struggling to breathe. Moyana attributed her condition to an attack by evil spirits, and they sought help from a spiritual healer in Ruwa. Tatenda’s condition worsened; she frothed at the mouth and nose, producing a greenish, smelly substance before dying around midnight. The body was then taken to Nyazura for burial, but police later retrieved it for a post-mortem examination.
Moyana’s court appearance was devoid of emotion. She appeared alongside her own young child, less than a year old. The prosecutor, Takudzwa Jambawo, detailed the charges against her, outlining the alleged assault that led to Tatenda’s death.
