Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A 33-year-old Nyazura man, who enticed a 13-year-old girl into a sexual relationship, has been arrested and jailed for one year.
Robert Chingwaru, of Dziruni Farm, appeared before Rusape magistrate, Tendai Mahwe, facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor.
He was not represented by a lawyer and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mahwe sentenced Chingwaru to 15 months in jail before suspending three months on condition of good behaviour for the next five years. He will serve 12 effective months in jail.
Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that Chingwaru sexually abused the minor several times before he was reported to the police.
“The accused person and complainant were lovers.
“Sometime during the year 2025 and at around 4pm the accused person met the complainant on her way to her homestead.
“He proposed love to the complainant and the complainant accepted.
“Sometime this year the complainant visited her sister.”
She added:
“On another day while he was walking the complainant home, the accused person took her to the bush and had unprotected intimacy with her consent.
“The accused person went on to have unprotected sexual intercourse with the complainant’s consent several times until April 2026.
“A report was made to the police on May 26, 2026, leading to the arrest of the accused person.
“The complainant was medically examined at Rusape General Hospital and a medical report can be produced before the court as an exhibit.
“The accused person acted unlawfully,” said Mutukwa.
Abusing and taking advantage of a minor is not rape? Wow! Zimbabwe!! Where are we going with this? How do we protect the girl child then if, as a country, we believe 13 year old girls have the right to engage in sexual affairs with 30 year old men? This is statutory rape for crying out loud. If the man involved was a teenage boy one would say that was a case of young people being truant. This man is fit to be the girl’s father!! Honestly, where is this country going? Don’t we have parliament that can change these laws? Can’t people see the damage our justice system is doing to the girl child? Mothers where are you? Mai venyika muri kuzvionawo here izvi? Blatant abuse of a child by a horrible old man calls for just a year in prison? Hell No!! This cannot continue.