A GOKWE man assaulted his 9-year-old daughter to death after accusing her of failing to remove dog waste from the family’s compound yard, the High Court heard Tuesday.

Dingani Maguchwa from Village Majeremani under Chief Nemangwe, Gokwe South was jailed for an effective nine years after being convicted for culpable homicide.

He pleaded guilty when appearing before Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Lawrence Kamocha, sitting on circuit in Gweru.

The judge ruled that Maguchwa acted negligently in causing the death of the young girl, adding that a deterrent sentence was necessary to send a strong message to like-minded persons.

The state’s case was that on the morning of 20 July 2009, Maguchwa asked his daughter to remove dog waste from the family yard.

After the minor completed the task the father expressed dissatisfaction saying she had left some of the waste on the ground.

In anger, Muguchwa plucked a switch from a nearby tree which he used to beat the girl all over the body.

She managed to run away. But when she later returned home the father continued beating her before he was restrained by a neighbour, Ivy Nkomo.

Later in the day the little girl lay on the floor of a kitchen hut complaining of chest pains.

Her condition deteriorated and she died on the same day.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of accused person.