Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A 68-year-old man from Mbizingwe, Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South Province left villagers in his community in shock after it was discovered that he had been in an intimate relationship with a 14-year-old Grade Seven pupil since December last year.
The six-month relationship came to light after the 14-year-old girl’s mother discovered an undergarment she had not bought for her and questioned where she got it from.
The man appeared before Esigodini resident magistrate, Ms Linda Menelisi facing two counts of having sexual intercourse with a young person. He was convicted on both counts and sentenced to an effective four years imprisonment.
According to court papers, the 14-year-old is from Ekuthuleni village and is doing Grade Seven while the 68-year-old man is also from the same village.
The State case as presented by prosecutor, Mr Shelton Jaboon is that on a date unknown to the State during the month of December 2023, the man proposed love to the 14-year-old juvenile and she accepted his proposal.
On a date unknown to the public prosecutor, but during the month of May 2024 at around 12pm, the man invited the girl to his place of residence and she complied.
While at the man’s place of residence, the court heard, the man asked the girl to have sexual intercourse with him and she agreed.
On the second count, the court heard that on a date unknown to the public prosecutor, during the month of June 2024 the man met the complainant at Mbizingwe Business Centre, called her into the toilet and had sex with her.
It was the State case that the man would silence the complainant from revealing the matter by buying her some fruits, snacks (jiggies) and a pair of panties.
The matter came to light on July 5, 2024 when the girl’s mother (name withheld) arrived from (place withheld) where she stays and discovered that the girl had a new set of panties which prompted her to question the girl as to who had bought her.
The court heard that upon being questioned by her mother, the girl revealed that she got it from the man who was her boyfriend after he had sexual intercourse with her twice.
The matter was reported to the police and the girl was referred to the hospital for medical examination.
For the two counts, the man was sentenced to six years imprisonment of which two years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit any offence of which a sexual act is an element.
The effective term of imprisonment is four years imprisonment. — @nyeve14.
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