BULAWAYO – A Bulawayo woman is on the run after allegedly beating up and killing her six-year-old stepdaughter who had reportedly refused to take the suspect’s instructions to wake up from her slumber to relieve herself in the toilet.

Police have also arrested the girl’s father, David Zhou, 47, for allegedly trying to cover up the shock incident.

The stepmother was identified as Priscilla Muchape, 33.

In a statement, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said Zhou, a resident of Northend suburb, was living with his now deceased daughter, her eight-year-old sister, and the stepmother at the time of the incident.

“On the 26th of May 2023, the now deceased and her sister were awakened by their stepmother Priscilla Muchape during the night to go to the toilet,” he said.

“The now deceased refused to wake up and this angered their stepmother who assaulted her with open hands, kicking her stomach and pushed her against the wall.”

Inspector Ncube said the girl collapsed after being heard screaming once, something that also prompted Zhou to wake up from the bedroom where he was sleeping.

“They tried to render first aid but to no avail. They then hired a motor vehicle and quickly ferried the now-deceased to the United Bulawayo Hospitals,” Ncube said.

“Upon arrival at the hospital, the father lied to the medical personnel that the now deceased was an epileptic patient who suffered from severe fits, she collapsed and hit her head against the wall under severe seizures of fits.”

The postmortem, Ncube said, revealed several bruises on the victim’s body suggesting that she suffered aggression instead of an epileptic attack.

“Postmortem was done on the 29th of May 2023 and the results indicated that the cause of death was natural as the child suffered brain injury,” he said.

“The body of the now deceased had multiple injuries, a fresh cut on the left ear, legs, feet, and a swollen head.

“Investigations revealed that the now deceased was not epileptic, instead the injuries she suffered were due to abuse by her stepmother.”

Inspector Ncube warned the public not to cover up crimes to protect relationships with suspects.

He also appealed for any information that could help towards the arrest of Muchape.