The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A SECURITY guard employed by Tanganda Tea Company will perform 360 hours of unpaid work for bedding a minor at the company’s compound.
Thomas Mapungwana (30) of Aventour Tea Estate under Chief Mutema’s area was last week convicted on his own guilty plea by Chipinge magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira.
In his defence, he said he is in love with the girl and intends to marry her.
Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande said on June 25 around 12pm, Mapungwana met the under-age complainant at Mabheka compound and proposed love to her and was turned down.
“Mapungwana then persistently proposed love to the complainant on different occasion until she accepted his proposal,” he said.
Mr Katsande said on June 29 around 7pm, the complainant went to Mapungwana’s home and they became intimate.
The case only came to light after members of the community who had seen the minor getting into Mapungwana’s house tipped the complainant’s father. He interrogated his daughter and she told him that she had been intimate with Mapungwana once.
A report was made to the police, thereby leading to Mapungwana’s arrest.
Mr Gwezhira sentenced Mapungwana to six months imprisonment. However, this sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he performs 360 hours of community service at Mabheka Primary School.
