Paedophile ordered to perform community service

A 50-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man was yesterday ordered to perform 420 hours of community service after being convicted of having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl.

Innocent Kakarahwa from Magwegwe North suburb appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate, Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.
Kakarahwa was initially sentenced to 24 months in prison. However, 12 months were suspended for five years on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period. The remaining 12 months were further suspended, contingent on his completion of 420 hours of community service at Magwegwe Police Station.

In passing sentence, Mrs Marondedze expressed concern over the rising tide of sexual crimes involving juveniles. She emphasised the court’s duty to protect the girl child.
“Cases that involve sexual relationships with juveniles are now on the rise, hence the need to send a clear message to would-be offenders that the law does not tolerate such behaviour,” she said.

The incident goes back to December last year when Kakarahwa lured the victim with a promise of a trip to Harare.

Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo said the accused arranged to meet the girl at Lobengula West Business Centre. Instead of heading to the capital, Kakarahwa diverted to Donnington West, where he held the girl in a single room for three days and engaged in sexual acts with her. Initially, he faced a kidnapping charge alongside the sexual offence, but the former was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

The matter came to light after the girl’s father reported her missing, prompting a police investigation. The victim was eventually located and brought to the station, where she recounted her ordeal.
In his defence, Kakarahwa claimed the girl had misrepresented her age, insisting she told him she was 19.

The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalises sexual activity with a child below the age of 18. This was after the Government last year raised from 16 to 18 years, the threshold within which one can make valid sexual consent.

According to the law, there is no defence to a charge of sexual intercourse or performing an indecent act with a young person to prove that he or she consented to such sexual intercourse or indecent act.

According to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, sexual offences against minors have spiked in urban areas, with perpetrators sometimes exploiting trust or offering false promises. Advocacy groups have long called for stronger community education and enforcement of child protection laws to stem the trend.