A 22-year-old man from Dzingayi Village, under Chief Chiwara in Gutu, has been sentenced to 420 hours of community service after pleading guilty to having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old Grade 7 pupil, with whom he was in a relationship.
The accused appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura on 9 September 2026.
Prosecutor Precious Takuva told the court that the two had met at Chikuru Business Centre in Chief Chiwara on 1 January 2026, at around 6 pm, where the accused proposed a relationship, which the girl accepted.
The pair then left the business centre together, heading towards the girl’s village, before the accused led her into a mountainous area in Shana Village, where they had sexual intercourse.
The court heard that the two went on to meet on several further occasions in the bush, continuing to have sexual intercourse until May 2026.
The offence came to light after the girl’s mother noticed she had missed her menstrual period in June 2026 and questioned her about a possible pregnancy.
Growing suspicious, the mother took her daughter to a police constabulary living in the same village, where the girl disclosed that she had been having sexual intercourse with the accused.
A formal police report followed, and it was subsequently confirmed that the girl was pregnant as a result.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court it had been a mistake and asked for forgiveness.
In passing sentence, Bepura said he had taken into account the accused’s age and the fact that he was a first-time offender, but was firm in condemning the offence.
“You are still young, you are 22 years old, and this is your first offence, but the offence of rape is something shameful,” he said.
The accused was initially sentenced to 20 months in prison, with eight months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
The remaining 12 months were suspended on condition that he completes 420 hours of community service at Majada Clinic in Gutu.
The community service is set to begin on 14 September, with the accused required to work from 8 am to 1 pm, take a one-hour break, then resume from 2 pm to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. The court ordered that he should not perform community service on public holidays.
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