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Sex offender sent to primary school for community service
29 Jan 2016 at 05:20hrs | Views
A 19-YEAR-OLD man from Victoria Falls who impregnated a Form Two pupil has been ordered to perform 310 hours of community service at Baobab Primary School in the resort town.
Edmore Sibanda of Chinotimba suburb, who is employed as a spray painter, impregnated a 14-year-old Dadani College pupil.
He was arrested when the girl's mother discovered that the girl was three months pregnant and the pupil subsequently confessed to engaging in sex with her boyfriend.
Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje slapped Sibanda with a wholly suspended six months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to engage in sex with a minor.
Three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar crime within that period and the remaining three months were suspended on condition that he performs 310 hours of community service at Baobab primary school.
Prosecuting, Listen Nare said Sibanda met the juvenile in October last year and proposed love to her.
The girl accepted, the court heard.
"The two had consensual sex during the same month. Sometime during the month of December, the complainant proceeded to the accused place of residence to see him. The accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant's consent," Nare said.
The court heard that on Wednesday last week, the pupil discovered that she was pregnant and told her boyfriend who promised to marry her.
On the same day, the girl's mother asked her why she was no longer asking for money to buy sanitary pads, the court heard.
Out of fear, the girl revealed that Sibanda had impregnated her.
The mother took her to the police to make a report leading to Sibanda's arrest.
The juvenile was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital for medical examination and it was confirmed that she was three months pregnant.
Sibanda's promise to marry the school-girl comes at a time when the Constitutional Court has ruled that no child under the age of 18 can legally enter into marriage.
The court declared that Section 78 (1) of the Constitution sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage and that any law to the contrary to that was unconstitutional.
Last year, MDC-T Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda told parliament that sex offenders should not be sent to schools to perform community service as doing so is akin to sending them back to their hunting grounds.
Edmore Sibanda of Chinotimba suburb, who is employed as a spray painter, impregnated a 14-year-old Dadani College pupil.
He was arrested when the girl's mother discovered that the girl was three months pregnant and the pupil subsequently confessed to engaging in sex with her boyfriend.
Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje slapped Sibanda with a wholly suspended six months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to engage in sex with a minor.
Three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar crime within that period and the remaining three months were suspended on condition that he performs 310 hours of community service at Baobab primary school.
Prosecuting, Listen Nare said Sibanda met the juvenile in October last year and proposed love to her.
The girl accepted, the court heard.
"The two had consensual sex during the same month. Sometime during the month of December, the complainant proceeded to the accused place of residence to see him. The accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant's consent," Nare said.
On the same day, the girl's mother asked her why she was no longer asking for money to buy sanitary pads, the court heard.
Out of fear, the girl revealed that Sibanda had impregnated her.
The mother took her to the police to make a report leading to Sibanda's arrest.
The juvenile was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital for medical examination and it was confirmed that she was three months pregnant.
Sibanda's promise to marry the school-girl comes at a time when the Constitutional Court has ruled that no child under the age of 18 can legally enter into marriage.
The court declared that Section 78 (1) of the Constitution sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage and that any law to the contrary to that was unconstitutional.
Last year, MDC-T Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda told parliament that sex offenders should not be sent to schools to perform community service as doing so is akin to sending them back to their hunting grounds.
Source - the herald
