A deeply tragic incident has shaken the community of Siabuwa, Matabeleland North, where a 23-year-old woman, Melody Mwiinde, allegedly took the life of her 6-year-old daughter in an appalling act of violence.
The young child, who was reportedly disabled, was found hanging from a tree branch on the 23rd of April, 2025.
Police have confirmed the arrest of Mwiinde, who has since confessed to the crime, citing her inability to cope with the stigma and challenges of raising a disabled child.
According to the Zimbabwean police, Mwiinde used an electrical cable to hang her daughter before abandoning the body in a disused hut. The chilling details of the case have left the community in shock.
Mwiinde’s confession indicated that the cruel act was driven by a combination of personal despair and external pressure. She revealed that the social stigma of raising a disabled child, especially one whom the father had allegedly abandoned, became too overwhelming to bear.
Mwiinde is reported to have expressed that she could no longer tolerate the mockery and judgement of others for keeping her daughter, which led her to commit the unthinkable.
This heartbreaking case raises broader concerns about the social challenges faced by parents of disabled children, especially in rural areas where stigma and isolation can be particularly harsh.
While the emotional and psychological strain of raising a disabled child is immense, the lack of proper support systems, resources, and societal understanding exacerbates these pressures.
Mwiinde’s tragic decision underscores the dire need for increased awareness and support for parents and carers of disabled individuals, particularly in communities where disabilities are still too often misunderstood or stigmatised.
