News / National
Polygamist rapist pays $20 lobola for girl (15)
26 Apr 2012 at 06:51hrs | Views
A 27-year-old Chinhoyi polygamist who was facing statutory rape charges told a local magistrate that he had paid $20 bride price to the uncle of his 15-year-old victim to solemnise his union with the minor.
Elijah Maredzva was lucky to escape jail on Tuesday after the 12-month sentence he was initially slapped with was wholly suspended on condition he did not commit a similar offence over the next five years.
Prosecutor Lucky Dube told the court that on February 15 last year at Anthens Farm, Lions Den in Chinhoyi, Maredzwa took the juvenile for a wife knowing that she was under 16, the legally permissible age of consent.
The court further heard that the two had sex several times with the minors consent.
The complainant's father, who later learnt of the union, reported the matter to police leading to Maredzwas arrest.
The girl told the court she had agreed to become Maredzwa's fourth wife. She also disclosed her uncle had accepted $20 paid by Maredzwa as bride price, but without her fathers knowledge.
Magistrate Patience Chirimo presided over the matter.
Elijah Maredzva was lucky to escape jail on Tuesday after the 12-month sentence he was initially slapped with was wholly suspended on condition he did not commit a similar offence over the next five years.
Prosecutor Lucky Dube told the court that on February 15 last year at Anthens Farm, Lions Den in Chinhoyi, Maredzwa took the juvenile for a wife knowing that she was under 16, the legally permissible age of consent.
The complainant's father, who later learnt of the union, reported the matter to police leading to Maredzwas arrest.
The girl told the court she had agreed to become Maredzwa's fourth wife. She also disclosed her uncle had accepted $20 paid by Maredzwa as bride price, but without her fathers knowledge.
Magistrate Patience Chirimo presided over the matter.
Source - newsday
