A Zimbabwean couple was dragged to court after they reportedly burnt their daughter’s hands on a stove as a form of punishment.

The couple, Luwini Ngoni Rugova 37 and her husband Freddy Katandika 32, was not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

Magistrate Taruvinga denied them bail and remanded them in custody, H-Metro reports.

Allegations are that on June 24 at around 9 pm,  Rugova, who is the stepmother to the grade 3 girl advised her husband Katandika that the child was playing with her stepbrother’s phone.

Katandika then took a stick and assaulted the complainant several times all over her body then forcibly placed the victim’s hands on a hot stove and after the act ordered her to go to sleep.

Rugova never sought medication or treatment for her and the child ended up using salt on the burns and wrapped the burns in a bandage.

A tip-off was made to the police leading to the couple’s arrest.

The minor is currently recovering after she was treated at Harare Hospital burns unit.