Woman forces niece (15) into marriage

30 Sep, 2016 - 00:09 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Julia N`andu Weekender Reporter

A 31-YEAR-OLD Mutasa woman landed herself in trouble with the law after she allegedly forced her 15-year-old niece into marriage.Sophia Panganai on Monday appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, facing charges of pledging of female person as defined in Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09:23.

Public prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe, said the offence was committed on June 20 this year.

“On that date at around 5pm at Nyarumwe Village in Old Mutare, the juvenile was standing while chatting with her boyfriend when Panganai saw them together.

“The accused person and the girl went home. Along the way she asked for forgiveness over the boyfriend matter, but the accused person did not accept her apology.

“She then ordered the girl to pack her clothes and accompany her to her boyfriend’s place where he is employed as a domestic worker.

“The girl refused to pack her belongings, but Panganai forced her to do so. She took her to her boyfriend’s workplace and ordered them to stay as husband and wife,” said Mr Karombe.

When they arrived at the boyfriend’s place, the accused person left her there.

The boyfriend also asked for forgiveness, pleading with Panganai to let the girl finish her education first, but she could hear none of it.

It came out that the two had consensual sexual intercourse on several occasions.

Panganai pleaded not guilty saying she did not force her niece into marriage as alleged.

“I had been instructed to enquire if Dennis was having an affair with my niece that is all I did Your Worship,” she said.

The case goes for trial on October 5.

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