Sex starved mum infects son (16) with STI

A 40 year-old Chiredzi woman is in trouble with the law after she allegedly infected her 16 year-old mentally ill stepson with a sexually transmitted disease.

Respina Mukanduri has since been arrested and charged with the crime of aggravated indecent assault stemming from the allegations. Mukanduri denied the charge when she appeared before Masvingo magistrate Judith Zuyu last Wedenesday.

Appearing for the State, Prosecutor Moreblessing Rusere told the court that sometime in November last year, and in the absence of the minor's father, Mukanduri called the teenager into her bedroom where she told him she was too afraid to sleep alone.

After that, she allowed the boy to return to his bedroom but after some moments, she stripped off her clothes and followed the boy into his bedroom. The court further heard that the accused, who found the boy already asleep, ordered him to remove his clothes and forced him into a sexual encounter.

It was further alleged the accused repeated the abuse on several occasions after the initial crime.

During the encounters, it is said, the accused would tell the boy not to reveal the relationship to his father adding that he should be happy to assume the father's "duties" as he was always away on business.

The matter came to light when the minor told his father, one Hanyani Matsilele that he was ill. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered he had an STI.

The boy was forced to reveal the source of the infection and the circumstances that led to it. The matter was reported to the police leading to the woman's arrest.

The accused was remanded out of custody to April 21 for continuation of trial.