Incestuous cousins escape jail term

Harare Cousins Patrick Zingwena, 24, and Josephine Muonde, 19, whose love for each other led to a sexual relationship have escaped jail and will have to perform 140 hours of community service.

The two cousins, who were found naked in bed by another relative, were found guilty of having sex within a prohibited degree of relationship by magistrate Tsatsawani Ndaba.

Ndaba had sentenced the two to eight months in prison but suspended four months on condition of good behaviour while the incestuous relatives will have to refocus their sexual energies doing community service for the remaining four months.

Prosecutor Ernest Zhanda told the court that sometime last year, the two cousins were staying with their uncle Jefias in Kuwadzana when he was told  that the two frequently shared the same bed.

Jefias counselled the two over their conduct and thought the worst was over only to discover later that the relationship between the people he considered to be close relatives was still raging on.

When Zingwena left for Mabvuku to stay with his cousin Jackson Singini, Muonde would lie that she was going for holiday lessons while visiting Zingwena in Mabvuku.

When Jefias heard about the relationship he set up a trap that led him to the sex nest. The two admitted that they were in love and were having sex regularly.