No Consent For Minors: Courts Jail Church Leader, Punish Binga Man For Underage Sex

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed two recent convictions that underscore the justice system’s firm stance on protecting minors from sexual exploitation, regardless of perceived consent or the position of the offender.

A church leader in Rusape has been sentenced to three years in prison, while a Binga man received community service for similar offences involving underage girls.

In Rusape, a 27-year-old church leader was jailed for three years after being found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old minor.

The court heard that the offender lured the child into his private room after New Year’s Eve prayers, where he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. The victim later disclosed the abuse, leading to a police report.

During the trial, the court carefully considered the circumstances of the victim’s disclosure.

While initial questioning raised concerns about how the complaint was made, the offender did not deny having sexual intercourse with the victim, claiming it was consensual.

However, the Rusape Magistrates’ Court firmly stated that consent is legally irrelevant when the individual is under the age of 18.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, a 21-year-old man from Binga was convicted of having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl.

The State proved that between December 2024 and April 2025, the pair had engaged in what they considered a “consensual” relationship involving sexual intercourse on several occasions.

The Binga man was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, with eight months suspended for five years. The remaining 16 months were further suspended on the condition that he perform 560 hours of community service.

Both cases serve as a stark reminder that in Zimbabwe, it is a criminal offence to engage in sexual intercourse with anyone under the age of 18, irrespective of whether they appear to consent or are in a “romantic” relationship.

The law is designed to shield minors from premature sexual activity and exploitation.

The NPA has urged young adults to be responsible and fully aware of their partners’ ages, as claiming ignorance of a minor’s age is not a valid defence if there was a “real risk or possibility” of them being underage.