. . . sentenced to 210hrs of community service

Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A 37-year-old Chipinge polygamist was last week arraigned before the courts for bedding a 14-year-old HIV positive girl.

Aleck Muyambo, who has three wives, appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware last Thursday facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor.

He pleaded guilty to the offence.

Asked why he committed the offence, Muyambo pleaded with the court for leniency claiming he wanted to marry the victim.

“Your worship please forgive me. I have three wives and 11 children to look after. I am also at risk of contracting HIV to my wives since the complainant tested positive when she was medically examined,” he said.

It was the State case led by Mr Gift Bikita who states that on June 8, 2018 around 3pm at Chidongo village under chief Mutema area, Muyambo lured the complainant who stays in the same village and had sexual intercourse with her once.

“After the act Muyambo told the complainant that if she keeps their affair he would buy her clothes. On June 13, around 2pm at the same village again Muyambo lured the complainant at the school playing grounds at Maundwa Primary School and took her to nearby bushes  where he had unprotected sexual intercourse with her once,” he said.

Mr Bikita said the matter came to light when the complainant’s grandmother Mavis Tomu was tipped of what was going on and she went to the accused homestead from where she proceeded to report the matter to the police.

In sentencing him, magistrate Nembaware said it was harsh to send Muyambo to jail as he had suffered enough.

“The complainant tested for HIV positive. When he had sexual intercourse with her, she had been taking ARVs. He is now taking ARVs and his three wives are at risk of being infected. The court held that even if  Muyambo is to blame, it will be harsh to send him to prison because being infected with HIV is a life time trauma,” he said.

Muyambo was sentenced to 12 months in jail of which 6months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The other six were suspended on condition that he performs 210hours community service.