Paedophile soldier (35) tells court he wants to marry girl (15)

FILABUSI -  A member of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces based at Imbizo Barracks on  the outskirts of Bulawayo accused of having sexual intercourse with a minor yesterday told the court that he was in love with the 15-year-old girl and wanted to marry her as he was a widower.

Vincent Jinga (35), an army nurse trainee attached at Zhulube Clinic in Filabusi,  who is represented by Martin Mureri, was admitting to having  had sexual intercourse with the girl when he appeared before Filabusi magistrate Mzingaye Moyo.

He told the court that he did not know that the girl was under age when he slept with her at his staff quarters at the clinic  on March 9 this year.

Jinga, who is out on free bail said the girl told him that she was 17 years old.

The soldier has a child of the same age with the girl he is accused of having abused.

Jinga is alleged to have slept  with the girl after he allegedly conducted  an HIV test on her.

He is alleged to have initially used a condom when sleeping with her, but later had unprotected sex with her.

Yesterday in court Jinga said he was in love with the girl.

"I am a widower," Jinga told the court.  "I still love the girl and I want to marry her."

The  magistrate remanded him to April 3 for judgment.