marble nkomo
LET’S be blunt. A toddler was allegedly kidnapped. A 14- year-old is at the centre of it. And an adult man, Godwell Mumba, stands accused of having sexual intercourse with a child – an offence for which consent is legally irrelevant. These are not storylines for social media; they are serious criminal matters involving a child, and they demand discipline, restraint and professionalism from everyone — starting with the police, courts, the media and the public.
First: Judges must lock this down. Zimbabwe’s legal framework is crystal clear: the best interests of the child are paramount, whether that child is a complainant, a witness or an accused in a separate matter. That is why the country built “victim friendly” pathways — so children are not re-traumatised by the very system meant to protect them. Use them. Close the courtroom when necessary. Appoint intermediaries.
Control witness preparation. Limit intrusive public access. That is not secrecy; it’s child protection — and it’s standard, rights based practice in Zimbabwe’s justice architecture.
Second: The public needs a reality check. By law, a person under 18 cannot consent to sex. Full stop. Parliament settled this in 2024 when it aligned the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to the Constitution through the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act. In plain English: “consent” from a child is not a defence. If you’re commenting online, let that guide your ethics before you hit “send.”
Third: Police and court officers must keep their eye on all the vulnerabilities. Reports indicate the 14-year-old was arrested over the alleged abduction of Baby Asanda; only then did allegations surface that an adult had unlawful sexual intercourse with her. That sequence demands a co-ordinated, child-centred response: protect the toddler’s family, shield the teenager and her family from harassment, and uphold due process for the accused. Loose talk and breathless reporting can contaminate evidence and poison fair trial rights. Don’t do it.
Fourth: There’s a reform roadmap — use it, don’t ignore it. The Child Justice Bill pushes diversion, age assessment and child- sensitive procedures; Unicef has long backed Zimbabwe’s victim-friendly courts so children aren’t chewed up by the system. Apply those standards — no naming or photographing children, managed court access, and remote or intermediary testimony where appropriate. That protects child welfare and the integrity of evidence.
Finally, to all of us: stop turning criminal cases into community theatre. Facebook think pieces and WhatsApp “investigations” don’t deliver justice — they endanger children, warp witness accounts and make convictions less, not more, likely. Let the courts do their job, under the Constitution and the strengthened child protection statutes. The rule is simple: justice must be done without using children as props for public entertainment.
OUR POSITION: The courts should (of course, they will) ring fence these proceedings with robust child protection measures; the media must report factually without identifying or sensationalising any child; and the public should keep vigilante commentary to themselves. That’s how we honour the law, protect the vulnerable and ensure that any verdict rests on evidence and process — not noise and pressure.
Online Reporter