News / Regional
Zanu-PF councillor (52) jailed for having sex with minor (13)
10 Jun 2013 at 06:33hrs | Views
A ZANU-PF councillor had his bail revoked after he was convicted for sleeping with a 13 year old girl and was remanded in custody to June 13 for sentence.
Witness Sebata, 52, Councillor for Ward 11 in Ntalale who appeared before regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza had rape charges against him dropped but was convicted for contravening section 70 of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23; having sex with a young person.
Sebata is a married man looking after his nine children, a mentally ill couple with one child and a child born and living with HIV.
Allegations against Sebata are that on May 16, 2012 he assumed custody of the complainant following an arrangement with the teenager's mother.
On several occasions during the period extending from May to October 162012 the accused had sex with the complainant after she consented.
The matter came to light after Sebata found the complainant with her boyfriend and assaulted both of them.
Members of the public alerted the police about the abuse and the complainant revealed the matter after being interviewed by the police leading to Sebata's arrest.
The matter was postponed after the defence lawyer requested more time to add to his mitigatory facts. In mitigation Thompson Mabhikwa of Mabhikwa legal practitioners stated that Sebata was a councillor who was in charge of various community development projects.
Witness Sebata, 52, Councillor for Ward 11 in Ntalale who appeared before regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza had rape charges against him dropped but was convicted for contravening section 70 of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23; having sex with a young person.
Sebata is a married man looking after his nine children, a mentally ill couple with one child and a child born and living with HIV.
Allegations against Sebata are that on May 16, 2012 he assumed custody of the complainant following an arrangement with the teenager's mother.
On several occasions during the period extending from May to October 162012 the accused had sex with the complainant after she consented.
The matter came to light after Sebata found the complainant with her boyfriend and assaulted both of them.
Members of the public alerted the police about the abuse and the complainant revealed the matter after being interviewed by the police leading to Sebata's arrest.
The matter was postponed after the defence lawyer requested more time to add to his mitigatory facts. In mitigation Thompson Mabhikwa of Mabhikwa legal practitioners stated that Sebata was a councillor who was in charge of various community development projects.
Source - Southern Eye
