Woman fined for bedding a minor and paying him $2

A 20-year-old woman from Masvingo's Mucheke suburb, who last year coerced a 12-year-old boy from her neighbourhood into being intimate with her has been fined $80 or 20 days in prison.

The woman would pay the boy $2 for every encounter. Nelia Mapukute, of Mucheke A, pleaded not guilty when she appeared before Masvingo magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso on Tuesday, but was convicted after a full trial.

For the State Mr James Murambidza said sometime last year and on several occasions Mapukute would call the boy to her house where she would sweet talk him to be intimate with her after which she would pay him $2 for his service.

The court heard that one day Mapukute met the boy while eating ice cream along the street and asked him for some. The boy obliged and gave her a piece and she suggested that they go to a secluded place to be intimate and he agreed. The pair went to a gum tree plantation in the same location along Zimuto Street and Mapukute assisted him put on a condom after which they were intimate.

The court heard that the plantation became their usual rendezvous, as they would frequent the area.

The court heard that Mapukute would invite the boy to their love nest saying, "huya tiite zvisina basa" (buya sidlale idoti) (Come and let's play silly games).

However, the escapades came to light sometime in November when the boy sent a friend, another minor, to ask for an advance payment of $5 for sex.

The court heard that the minor's unnamed mother got wind of the boy's escapades with the woman and quizzed him and the boy opened up and told the truth about his relationship with the woman.

A report was made at Chikato Police Station leading to the woman's arrest.