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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A PASTOR at Kingdom Fellowship Church who impregnated a 15-year-old girl after making her believe he was testing her virginity has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Elisha Persuade Nhando (40) admitted to impregnating the minor when he appeared before a Harare magistrate.

He claimed they were lovers.

Nhando yesterday pleaded guilty to having sexual intercourse with a minor.

Mr Tendai Mahwe sentenced him to three years in prison before setting aside one year on condition of good behaviour.

In passing sentence, Mr Mahwe said cases of pastors abusing their duties were rampant hence the need to pass a deterrent sentence.

“Accused person you took advantage of the minor who looked up to you as a father-figure and abused her. Cases of pastors raping or abusing women and children are on the increase hence a clear message needs to be sent out there so as to deter offenders.

“Also you are a married man and your actions show that you only wanted to use the minor. After all, why did you take her from her parent’s house on the guise that as a pastor you wanted to take care of her. This is wickedness,” he said.

In his mitigation, Nhando pleaded for the court’s leniency arguing that he was in love with the minor thinking she was 17-years-old.

In Zimbabwe, the age of sexual consent is 16.

Pastor Nhando adopted the minor in October last year.

In January this year, the man of cloth proposed love to the minor and she accepted the proposal.

The following day Pastor Nhando took advantage of his wife’s absence and went to the sitting room where the complainant was watching television.

He told the girl he wanted to check if she was still a virgin.

Pastor Nhando said the only way to do so was by inserting his manhood into the girl’s privates.

He then slept with the minor and warned her not to tell anyone.

The pastor slept with the girl on several occasions thereafter leading to her pregnancy.

The girl’s mother reported the matter to the police leading to Nhando’s arrest.

The girl is now four months pregnant.