Bulawayo man jailed for sleeping with 15-year-old girlfriend

Dalyn ChigwizuraA 27-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual relations with his 15-year-old “girlfriend” on multiple occasions.Steward Chigwaze, of Iminyela suburb, was convicted on his own plea of guilty by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube. He was handed a 15-month custodial sentence, with six months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.Prosecutor Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that Chigwaze proposed love to the complainant in July, and she accepted. The two subsequently engaged in sexual activity on several occasions.On 13 August, the court heard, the complainant had been sent by her sister to Iminyela Shopping Centre, but instead went to Chigwaze’s residence, where she spent time before returning home late.“Out of frustration, the complainant’s sister asked her where she had been and told her to go back to where she came from.

The complainant then returned to the accused’s house,” said Ms Kuzu.The matter came to light on 11 September when the complainant returned home and her father questioned her about her whereabouts. She then disclosed the relationship, prompting a police report which led to Chigwaze’s arrest.The complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination.In Zimbabwe, the legal age of sexual consent is 18. Engaging in sexual activity with anyone below that age is a criminal offence, punishable by a Level 12 fine or a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.Courts have consistently ruled that minors are legally incapable of consenting to sexual relationships, and offenders face custodial sentences even if the act is presented as consensual.Meanwhile, two Bulawayo men appeared before the same magistrate yesterday facing charges of stealing rims and tyres worth over US$10 000 from a local garage.Nhlanhla Ndebele (26) of Tshabalala suburb and Mandlenkosi Moyo (21) of Iminyela suburb were remanded in custody to 29 September.Prosecuting, Ms Kuzu told the court that on 21 August, the two men allegedly raided K Sibanda’s garage in Kelvin North at around 7PM.“The accused persons stole 11 rims and three tyres before leaving the premises unnoticed.

Three days later, at around 5AM, the duo returned to the same garage to steal more property,” she said.While inside, they were disturbed by members of the neighbourhood watch committee, who apprehended Ndebele. Moyo managed to flee.Ndebele was handed over to the police, and subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Moyo. Some of the stolen items were later recovered from an unsuspecting buyer who had purchased the goods.Leave a ReplyCancel reply Dalyn ChigwizuraA 27-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual relations with his 15-year-old “girlfriend” on multiple occasions.Steward Chigwaze, of Iminyela suburb, was convicted on his own plea of guilty by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube.

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Some of the stolen items were later recovered from an unsuspecting buyer who had purchased the goods. A 27-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual relations with his 15-year-old “girlfriend” on multiple occasions. Steward Chigwaze, of Iminyela suburb, was convicted on his own plea of guilty by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube.

He was handed a 15-month custodial sentence, with six months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period. Prosecutor Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that Chigwaze proposed love to the complainant in July, and she accepted. The two subsequently engaged in sexual activity on several occasions.

On 13 August, the court heard, the complainant had been sent by her sister to Iminyela Shopping Centre, but instead went to Chigwaze’s residence, where she spent time before returning home late. “Out of frustration, the complainant’s sister asked her where she had been and told her to go back to where she came from. The complainant then returned to the accused’s house,” said Ms Kuzu.

The matter came to light on 11 September when the complainant returned home and her father questioned her about her whereabouts. She then disclosed the relationship, prompting a police report which led to Chigwaze’s arrest.The complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination. In Zimbabwe, the legal age of sexual consent is 18.

Engaging in sexual activity with anyone below that age is a criminal offence, punishable by a Level 12 fine or a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.Courts have consistently ruled that minors are legally incapable of consenting to sexual relationships, and offenders face custodial sentences even if the act is presented as consensual. Meanwhile, two Bulawayo men appeared before the same magistrate yesterday facing charges of stealing rims and tyres worth over US$10 000 from a local garage.Nhlanhla Ndebele (26) of Tshabalala suburb and Mandlenkosi Moyo (21) of Iminyela suburb were remanded in custody to 29 September. Prosecuting, Ms Kuzu told the court that on 21 August, the two men allegedly raided K Sibanda’s garage in Kelvin North at around 7PM.

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