marble nkomo
Danisa Masuku
A COWDRAY Park teen who crept into a woman’s bedroom in the dead of night armed with a bag of condoms has spun one of the strangest defences the Bulawayo courts have ever heard.
Mpumelelo Nzima (19) was hauled before magistrate Challenge Mahembe after he sneaked into a woman’s home, fondled her private parts and fled into the darkness when he was caught.
The incident, which happened shortly after 2am on 10 December last year, triggered screams, chaos and a dramatic escape over a precast wall.
But Nzima told the court the woman begged him for sex as payment for a US$2 mbanje debt.
The teen claimed the complainant was a dagga dealer who had given him a twist on credit.
He said when he failed to pay, she allegedly phoned him and invited him to her house for what he called a bedroom settlement.
“She called me and asked me to come to her house. When I arrived, she told me we should have sex so that it can be payment for the money I owed her.
“While I was caressing her, one of her children saw us and screamed, claiming I had sneaked into her bedroom. I then ran away,” said Nzima.
The woman told a very different story.
Prosecutor Josephine Gurazhira told the court that Nzima sneaked into the complainant’s bedroom and fondled her private parts without consent.
“He tried to remove her panties but she pushed him away. He fell onto the complainant’s daughter,” said Gurazhira.
The daughter switched on a torch and caught the intruder red-handed.
That is when the house erupted into screams.
“The accused pushed the complainant aside, scaled over a precast wall and ran away, leaving behind his green takkies and unused condoms,” the court heard.
The complainant later reported that the suspect also grabbed US$100 before fleeing.
Nzima denied stealing the money and insisted the woman had fabricated the story.
However, the court dismissed his mbanje-for-sex defence and found him guilty of indecent assault.
He was fined US$100. In default of payment, he will serve three months in jail.
A further two months were wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
He was acquitted on the theft charge.
Online Reporter