adminTanaka Mrewa Court Reporter
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl from Tsholotsho shocked a court when she declared she wanted to drop charges against her uncle who had been arrested for forcing his fingers into her sexual organ.
Mqinisi Tshuma (31) who had been in custody since his arrest on June 3 this year was all smiles with his mother (juvenile’s grandmother) after learning that the charges would be dropped.
He allegedly abused the minor in the guise of cleansing her from goblins.
Bulawayo Regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere withdrew the charges and warned Tshuma that he was very lucky to escape jail.
“You’re a very lucky man that this little girl withdrew these charges. We certainly hope that her testimony that you didn’t commit this offence is true. This court looks out for men who take advantage and abuse young children, it sends them away to prison for a very long time where they can’t have access to innocent children,” said Mr Mberewere.
Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said charges against Tshuma were that he massaged his niece’s vagina with a traditional ointment and forced his fingers into it, claiming that he was cleansing her.
“Accused went into the complainant’s bedroom after everyone had retired to bed. He told her she was being forced to sleep with goblins. He asked her to remove her panties and sit on the bed. He smeared her vagina with some traditional medicine (ivimbela) then inserted his fingers inside,” said Mr Manyiwa.
In her statement, the victim stated that her uncle used to cleanse her occasionally.
“My uncle used to send me to the river to fetch water. He would tell me to remove my skirt and at times all of my clothes.
“On one occasion I refused to be ‘bathed’ and told him that I would tell my grandmother about it,” read the statement.— @tannytkay.
Online Reporter