A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Victoria Falls has been arrested for
having sexual intercourse with a minor girl in a moving commuter omnibus full
of passengers.
The Form Four girl, now 16, is seven months pregnant
following the consensual sexual encounter that took place on December 24 last
year in a kombi that was heading to Jambezi from Victoria Falls.
Nhlalwenhle Mpofu, a general hand at Victoria Falls
Municipality and residing in Chinotimba suburb, pleaded guilty to having sexual
intercourse with a young person when he appeared before Victoria Falls
magistrate, Ms Rangarirai Gakanje.
He was remanded in custody to today for sentence.
His lawyer, Mr Thulani Nkala of Dube, Nkala and Company
said Mpofu deserved a second chance as he had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
“The accused is a young person who is gainfully employed and incarcerating him
will destroy his future as he will be unemployed. Besides, the age difference
is small as the complainant is 16,” said Mr Nkala.
Prosecuting, Mr Bheki Tshabalala said Mpofu and his unnamed
friend offered to have the complainant and her younger sister sit on their laps
as the vehicle was full.
Along the way, Mpofu and the complainant had consensual
sex.
“On December 23 the accused proposed love to the
complainant who rejected. The following day the complainant boarded a kombi to
Jambezi and the accused was also in the kombi. The kombi was full and the
complainant and other girls were made to sit on the accused and his friends’
laps,” said the prosecutor.
The court was told that along the way, Mpofu unzipped his
pair of trousers and had sex with the complainant in the presence of her
younger sister and other passengers.
The matter came to light in May when the complainant’s aunt
suspected that she was pregnant. The girl revealed that she had not had her
periods for five months.
A report was made to the police leading to Mpofu’s arrest.
Herald
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