adminLuthando Mapepa
IMPREGNATING a 14-year-old maid employed by a neighbour landed a Chipinge teacher in trouble after being arraigned before the courts facing rape charges.
Lovemore Gotoza of Matezwa Primary School pleaded guilty to having sexual intercourse with a minor when he appeared before Mr James Gapara on Monday. The matter was adjourned to today (Friday) when Mr Gapara is expected to sentence Gotoza.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Nyamundaya said on a date unknown by the prosecutor, but at around 8pm, the complainant retired to bed alone in her room.
“At around 11pm, the accused gained entry into the room through a broken window and ordered the complainant to keep quiet. The complainant complied and the accused stripped her of her clothes and raped her four times during that night,” said Mr Nyamundaya.
He said the matter came to light on May 25 after the complainant’s father got a tip-off from villagers about the affair.
“When he interrogated his daughter about the affair, she revealed that she was in love with Lovemore Gotoza.
“She told her father that they had slept together on two different occasions. She also told him that she was already pregnant,” said Mr Nyamundaya.
A police report was made to the police leading to Gotoza’s arrest.
In defence, Gotoza told the court that he was not aware of the minor’s age. He said he thought she was an adult as she was someone else’s employee.
“Your Worship, I was not aware that the girl was still a minor because her body led me to propose to her.
“I thought she was an adult because she was already working. Normally people employ mature and grown-up people to work for them. I promise to marry her and we are already in the process of becoming husband and wife,” he said.
Online Reporter