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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A Nyanga octogenarian (80) stands accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and buying her silence with money and goodies.
Appearing before acting Chief Saunyama recently, it was also established that apart from Sekuru Steven Mandabva, Pastor Simbarashe Chikata (44) and Lovemore Nyarumba (21) were also abusing the Grade Seven student.
Acting Chief Saunyama had no kind words for the three men.
“I always preach against such kind of uncouth behaviour. We have no place for men who take advantage of the girl child to abuse her. You deserve to be behind bars.
“She is a child and that should have discouraged you. If indeed you acted in this manner, then you are surely a disgrace to parenthood and humankind,” fumed acting Chief Saunyama.
He referred the matter to Nyanga Police Station were three were subsequently arrested as it is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe to have sexual intercourse with anyone below the age of 16.
Sekuru Mandabva and Pastor Chikata have since appeared at Nyanga Magistrates’ Court facing charges of sleeping with a minor as defined in Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
They were remanded out of custody and trial was expected to commence yesterday (Thursday).
However, Nyarumba is facing rape charges as he is being accused of forcing himself on the minor.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the development.
“While the other two men had consensual sex with the minor, Nyarumba tripped and raped her. Nyarumba’s case is still under investigations and he will appear in court soon,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
The three’s illicit interactions with the minor were let out of the bag after her friend broadcast it to their mates.
During her appearance before acting Chief Saunyama’s court, the minor who cannot be named to protect her identity confirmed that she was intimate with the grey-haired Sekuru Mandabva on three different occasions.
“He would give me money and I would sleep with him. We first became intimate in his daughter-in-law’s hut. At first, he gave me US$20. He gave me different amounts during the course of our relationship. Sometimes, he would send my friend’s younger sister to hand over the money,” narrated the minor.
She said she would spend the money on sweets and chips with her friend.
Asked why he had acted in such a manner, Sekuru Mandabva claimed that the minor lured him into the relationship.
He said he was hot over heels in love with the minor and was contemplating marrying her.
The old man blew his top when it emerged that the girl had also been intimate with two other men.
“I did not know that she was ‘cheating’ on me with these two other guys. Had I known, I would have barred her from visiting my house and getting my money,” said the widower who stays alone in Chibaya Village under Chief Saunyama’s area.
Asked on how the relationship started, Sekuru Mandabva said: “She came to my place asking for money and I gave her. She continued coming back daily asking for more money. At times I would give the money to her friend’s little sister to give her. After receiving the money, she would pay me a visit to thank me.
“I realised that with the way she was frequenting my place, she wanted something more than the money she was asking for and I gave her what she wanted.
“I did not ask her out, we just found ourselves in bed. The child needs strong prayers and deliverance. The way she craves for money and sex is just too much. I failed to resist her,” claimed Sekuru Mandabva.
The minor told the court that she was also intimate with 44-year-old Pastor Chikata on countless occasions.
She said the man-of-cloth had promised to buy her a phone.
“With Pastor Chikata, it all started when my teacher told us that we should get smart-phones or laptops for online lessons. I approached Pastor Chikata and he promised to buy me the phone on condition that I became his girlfriend.
“He never bought me the phone, but we were intimate on countless occasions in the bushes and on the road that leads to his house,” claimed the girl.
However, Pastor Chikata denied having an intimate relationship with the minor.
“She is a liar. I have nothing to say pertaining this matter. I am a respected man of God in this area, and these allegations will destroy my reputation,” he said.
The minor went on to implicate the third man, Lovemore Nyarumba (21), whom she said was her official boyfriend.
She said they were intimate once.
“Unlike Sekuru Mandabva whom I voluntarily slept with him, Nyarumba tripped me to the ground as we were walking and he forced himself on me once,” she said.
Nyarumba confirmed dating the minor, but denied sleeping with her.
“I was in love with this child, but I was never intimate with her. Actually, she is the one who approached me and asked me out. At first, I spurned her advances as it is weird for a girl to court a guy, but I later agreed. During the course of our relationship, she would demand to be intimate with me, but would turn her down. I actually broke up our relationship after her uncle castigated me for dating her as she is still a minor.
“Maybe she is still bitter that I ended our relationship, hence her false accusations,” claimed Nyahumba.
During the course of the three relationships, the minor’s parents were in Harare and she was staying with her 20-year-old twin brothers.
In an interview with The Weekender, the minor’s mother said her daughter needs help.
“It is painful that I failed to give my daughter proper parental guidance. I am at a loss of words. When I came back from Harare, I discovered that she had a new wardrobe. I do not know how she got the clothes. She is very disrespectful. She needs help,” said the heartbroken mother.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission reports that 22 women are raped daily, one every 75 minutes.
On average, 646 women are sexually abused monthly, with one in three girls raped or sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 18.
The vast majority of sexual offences are committed by men against women and children.
Online Reporter