Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A 22-YEAR-OLD man who stayed with a juvenile aged 16 for four months as his wife, landed himself in deep trouble with the law after being arrested, and hauled before the court over the offence.
Nyasha Chuma, of Magamba suburb, Rusape, intercepted the juvenile, who was on her way to visit her parents in Mutare, and started co-habiting with her before the girl’s mother made a police report.
Chuma who was not represented when he appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mrs Barbra Mateko did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mrs Mateko sentenced him to 520 hours of community service.
Prosecutor, Ms Faith Mutukwa told the court that by cohabiting with the minor Chuma, violated Section 70 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) – which makes it illegal to be intimate with a person below the age of 18.
“On June 12, 2025, at around 10am in Mutare, the complainant met the accused person, and proposed love, which proposal the complainant accepted. Sometime in September 2025, the complainant was on way from her village homestead in Tandi, Rusape going to Mutare, where her parents stay. When the complainant reached Vengere Bus terminus in Rusape, she met with the accused person who was a driving a motor vehicle.
“The complainant got into the vehicle and they proceeded to the accused’s house.
On arrival Chuma went on to deflower the complainant, who was consenting. Since that day, the accused person and the complainant had sex several times and on different occasions.
The matter came to light when the complainant’s mother discovered the offence and reported it to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest. The complainant was medically examined and the medical affidavit can be produced in court as an exhibit. The accused person acted unlawfully,” said Ms Mutukwa.
