MWE Correspondent
A court in Manyara Region has sentenced a 42-year-old man to six years in prison and fined him one million Tanzanian shillings after finding him guilty of brutally assaulting a 13-year-old boy, cutting off both of his ears over the theft of a single egg.
The shocking incident took place on August 23, 2025, in Bermi Village, Babati District, and has since drawn widespread outrage across Tanzania. The sentence was delivered on October 7, 2025, by Resident Magistrate Martini Masao at the Manyara Resident Magistrate’s Court.
According to court proceedings, the boy had allegedly entered the man’s home and stolen one egg. He was caught by the convict’s elder brother, who then called the suspect, identified as Hamis Mfangavu, to handle the matter. Witnesses told the court that when Mfangavu arrived, he demanded to punish the child himself — a decision that quickly turned into a horrific act of violence.
Using a razor blade, Mfangavu severed both of the boy’s ears, slashed his chest, and banged his head against a wall, accusing him of being a thief. The attack left the child with permanent injuries, and doctors confirmed during the trial that his ears will never heal or regenerate.
State Attorney Esther Malima, who prosecuted the case, described the assault as “inhuman and deeply disturbing,” noting that the victim’s life had been irreversibly scarred. She urged the court to impose a strong sentence to send a clear message against violence and vigilante justice.
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In his ruling, Magistrate Masao cited Section 225 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes acts of grievous bodily harm. He stressed that no act of theft — particularly by a minor — could ever justify such cruelty. “The law must protect children and uphold human dignity,” he said while delivering the judgment.
The court’s decision has been widely welcomed by human rights advocates and child welfare organizations, who argue that the sentence reflects a growing intolerance for violence against children in Tanzania. They have also called for stronger community education to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Child protection experts warn that many such cases go unreported, especially in rural areas where traditional justice practices sometimes overshadow legal procedures. They emphasize the need for communities to report abuse and allow authorities to handle cases through proper legal channels.
The young victim is now recovering under medical supervision, supported by local welfare officers and community leaders. Efforts are underway to provide him with counseling and long-term psychological care.
