The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
MARRYING a 15-year-old juvenile and infecting her with HIV landed a 27-year-old Chipinge man in trouble.
Paul Mukushwa appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira, last week, facing charges of bedding a minor as well as deliberately infecting her with HIV.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of bedding a minor and denied infecting her with HIV. In his submission, Mukushwa said he never forced the complainant into marriage as she had consented to his proposal.
Mukushwa said he never deliberately infected her with HIV since he was never diagnosed with the disease. “Your Worship, the complainant is my wife and we agreed to settle together with the blessings of her parents.
“I deny infecting her with HIV since I have never tested positive to the disease,” said Mukushwa It was the State’s case led by Mr Witness Nyamundaya that on an unknown date, but during the month of September last year, Mukushwa who stays at New Year’s Gift Estates proposed love to the complainant and she accepted.
“On December 25 at around 8pm, Mukushwa lured the complainant to his compound where he sweet-talked her into marrying him. The complainant agreed to stay with him. “The accused was intimate with the complainant several times until February when Mukushwa started showing disinterest in her,” said Mr Nyamundaya.
He added: “Mukushwa chased away the complainant from his compound. She went back to inform her mother about the development.” Mr Nyamundaya said on April 25, the mother accompanied her daughter to ZRP Chipinge Rural Police Station where she made a report.
“On the same day, the complainant was referred to Chipinge District Hospital where she was medically examined by Dr Muchiwokufa, aGov ernment medical officer who confirmed that the complainant was HIV positive. He also confirmed that the juvenile was sexually active,” said Mr Nyamundaya.
Mukushwa was remanded out of custody.
