Harare, (New Ziana) – A 20-year-old man from Chief Mutambara’s area in Chimanimani is to perform 420 hours of community service for having sexual relations with a grade seven learner.

According to the criminal law, having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16 is considered statutory rape and the penalty is a fine or 10 years in prison.

In a post on X, the National Prosecution Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said the man was convicted and sentenced by the Chipinge Magistrates Court and initially sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Twelve months were conditionally suspended for five years and the remainder on condition he performed 420hours community service. The man approached the 14-year-old girl with a romantic relationship proposal and she accepted.

In January this year, the man proposed to have sexual intercourse with the girl and she agreed. The two engaged in sexual intercourse multiple times at his homestead between January and April.

The matter came to light when the girl’s brother noticed her absence from home when he arrived from Mutare and found her at the man’s homestead, leading to a police report and investigations. The man was arrested and charged with having sexual intercourse with a minor and sentenced to 24 months in prison.

The court sentenced him taking into account his guilty plea and suspended 12 months of the sentence and another 12 months was suspended on condition that he completes 420 hours of community service.

New Ziana