A 50-year-old man from New Magwegwe, Bulawayo, has been sentenced to community service after being convicted of having sexual intercourse with a minor.
Innocent Kakarahwa was found guilty of contravening Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
He received a 24-month sentence, with 12 months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
The remaining 12 months were suspended on the condition that he complete 400 hours of community service at Magwegwe Police Station starting on 10 March 2025.
However, Kakarahwa was acquitted of kidnapping and unlawful detention charges under Section 93(1)(b)(ii) of the same Act after the state failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
READ: https://cite.org.zw/trial-begins-for-byo-man-accused-of-detaining-assaulting-teen-girls/
Prosecutors alleged that on 2 December, at around 8 pm, Kakarahwa picked up two teenage girls from Konron Supermarket in Lobengula West, promising them jobs in Harare. Instead, he took them to a one-room dwelling at Call Out Investments Compound in Donnington West, where they stayed for three days.
The case came to light after a missing personโs report was filed, leading to police intervention.
During the trial, the victims testified that they had misrepresented their ages and had not been locked up during their stay in Donnington, as they were free to move around.
