By Jones Gadama
The Mangochi Second Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced 30-year-old Daina Bauleni to 18 months imprisonment with hard labor for assaulting her 7-year-old stepson.
The court heard that Bauleni had a history of beating her stepson whenever her husband left for work.
The incident that led to Bauleni’s conviction occurred on March 18, when she beat her stepson for eating fritters.
The beating was so severe that the child broke a tooth. Bauleni pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency, citing that she is breastfeeding a two-month-old baby.
However, the state prosecutor opposed Bauleni’s plea, arguing that she posed a threat to the child and had instilled fear in him.
Second Grade Magistrate Baxter Chikalimba concurred with the state prosecutor and sentenced Bauleni to 18 months imprisonment with hard labor.
However he handed down a 30-month suspended sentence.
Bauleni’s case highlights the alarming issue of child abuse in Malawi.
According to reports, many children in the country suffer physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their caregivers.
In recent years, Malawi has taken steps to strengthen its laws and policies on child protection.
The country has enacted laws that prohibit child abuse and neglect, and has established institutions to support victims of child abuse.
However, despite these efforts, child abuse remains a pervasive problem in Malawi. The case of Daina Bauleni serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and action to protect the rights and welfare of children.
It is clear that more needs to be done to support families and caregivers in Malawi, to prevent cases of child abuse like this from occurring.
The sentence handed down to Daina Bauleni by the Mangochi Second Grade Magistrate Court is a significant step towards holding perpetrators of child abuse accountable.
However, it also highlights the need for continued efforts to prevent child abuse and support victims in Malawi.
