A MAN from Gwezhera Village in Masvingo is on the run after he allegedly severely battered his daughter who died after a week at his homestead.

A source in the area said Tanyaradzwa Poruri (14) sneaked out of her bedroom hut through the window at night intending to attend a party. She headed to her cousin’s place and asked her to accompany her to the party but she refused. She ended up sleeping at her cousin’s home.

During the night, the source said, it rained heavily and raindrops poured into the bedroom hut through a window that the girl had left open.

Tanyaradzwa’s siblings cried for help, prompting their mother Merjury to head to their bedroom where she was shocked to find them alone, said the source.

The worried Merjury informed her husband Nhamoinesu Poruri (47) who in the morning went to a neighbour’s homestead and found her there.

“He tied her hands with tree fibre and dragged her to his homestead while thrashing her with a stick,” said the source.

Upon arrival at home he continued beating her with a stick and she was injured on the hands and legs.

It is reported that while he was beating her, Tanyaradzwa had a blackout and fell into the fire and suffered burns on the hands and thighs.

“They (parents) never took her to a hospital; they only soothed her with cold water. Sadly she died on Saturday.

When her father noticed that his daughter had died he fled and is still at large,” said the source close to investigation.

The matter was reported at Renco Police Station.

Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dewa confirmed the incident.

“We are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused to contact any nearest police station.”-B-Metro