HARARE - A 37-year-old woman who negligently left a septic tank uncovered resulting in the drowning of her 18-month-old toddler has narrowly escaped prison.

Leana Mafoko was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to perform 420 hours of unpaid work by a Harare magistrate.

Regional magistrate Rodgers Kachambwa said Mafoko left a soak-away unsecured knowing that during the rainy season it would be covered with water thereby creating a hazard such as the one which led to the toddler drowning.

The court heard that on January 5 this year, at Trafalgar in Norton, the now deceased Ruvimbo Ruwazha was left by her mother at the house when she went to fetch water.

The child tried to follow her mother and along the way she fell into an uncovered septic tank which was at the house and drowned.

The child was then ferried to Norton Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. -  Helen Kadirire