adminCollette Mukome
QUENCHING his sexual appetite on a 12-year-old girl earned a Hobhouse man 160 hours of unpaid work.
Brendon Sibanda (21) of House Number 1920, Hobhouse 1, was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura last week.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
On February 6, the girl was sent by her father to buy an electricity voucher and on her way she met Sibanda who invited her to take a rest with him under a mango tree behind a Muslim church in the area.
Mr Karombe said while they were relaxing, Sibanda forced the minor to sleep with him.
“The minor returned home without buying the electricity voucher. Her father asked why she took so long to return and without the voucher. T
“The minor lied that the network at ZETDC was down, but her friend told the father what had happened.
“Her friend told the father that she had slept with Sibanda who was waiting for her outside the pre-cast wall by that time.
“Her father went out and effected a citizen’s arrest on Sibanda,” said Mr Karombe.
Asked why he committed the offence, Sibanda told the court that he wanted to marry the child.
“Your Worship, I want a child and I am prepared to take the minor as my wife. I was waiting outside with the intention to take her home as my wife thinking that her father would chase her away. I was not aware of her age and what I wanted was a baby from her,” said Sibanda.
Mrs Chiundura sentenced him to eight months imprisonment.
However, four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour in the next five years and another four years were suspended on condition that he completes 160 hours of community service at Hobhouse Police Base.
“If you move around deflowering young girls in the next five years you are risking spending time in jail.
“You take the risk by dating a girl without knowing her age,” Mrs Chiundura cautioned.
Online Reporter