$200 fine for raping minor

PROPOSING love and sleeping with a teenager on the same day earned a Burma Valley man $200 fine.

Patson Kuwona was convicted on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi for engaging in sex with a juvenile. Although he is married with one child, Kuwona claimed that he was so much in love with the teenager and wanted to marry her at the end of this year.

Prosecuting, Mr Walter Saunyama told the court that in September last year, Kuwona met the juvenile who was on her way to the garden and proposed love to her.

"The two stay at Brownhill Farm and the accused is employed there. On the day in question, the accused met the complainant who was on her way to the garden to get some vegetables. He started proposing love to her and she gave in to his proposals. Kuwona then accompanied the unsuspecting girl all the way to the garden, but when they were there, the accused started pestering her for sex.

"He then forced himself on the juvenile and raped her once. He was seen by one Tamary in the act who then threatened to go and tell the complainant's mother what she had seen. The accused gave the complainant a packet of sweets and biscuits for her to deny everything if her mother were to ask her any questions," said Mr Saunyama.

However, when she got home, the complainant told her mother everything, leading to Kuwona's arrest. The court also learnt that the 20 year old rapist was married with one child.

He also admitted that he knew that the complainant was under age. Asked by the magistrate what he wanted to do with another girl when he is already married, Kuwona revealed his intentions to marry the juvenile.

Said the accused: "I love the complainant Your Worship and I wanted to marry her towards the end of this year."