adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A MAN from Gwanda allegedly gave an 11-year-old girl two packets of maputi to lure her into having sexual intercourse with him. Bonolo Bedza, 28, of Mambo and Sons Store in Manama area, is facing charges of raping the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, but is a pupil at Manama Primary School.
Bedza denied the charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza and was remanded in custody to December 21.
Prosecuting, Mncedisi Dube narrated how Bedza allegedly raped the juvenile on October 13 this year when the girl’s mother had gone to Bulawayo and left her alone at home.
“On the same day the complainant went to Manama Business Centre where she met the accused person.
“The accused person gave her two packets of maputi and she was promised $5 so that she could go to his bedroom at night on that day for the purpose of having sexual intercourse.
“The complainant agreed and that night she went to accused’s bedroom where the accused had sexual intercourse with her twice,” the court heard.
It is said that the matter was later revealed when people became suspicious of Bedza’s conduct when they saw him looking for the girl at a time when her mother was away.
“The information that accused was seen looking for the complainant was relayed to the teachers at the complainant’s school who then interviewed the complainant.
“The complainant told her teachers that the accused had sexual intercourse with her in his bedroom,” Dube told the court.
The law stipulates that an 11-year-old child is incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Bedza’s arrest.
The girl was referred to hospital for medical examination.
Online Reporter