Zimpapers Logo

Bulawayo Bureau

A HEADMAN from Tsholotsho District escaped the agony of jail life when he was ordered to perform 420 hours of community service for indecently assaulting his neighbour’s 14-year-old daughter. 

Jabulani Mnkandla (67) touched the girl’s private parts before he tried to buy her silence by promising to buy her a new pair of school shoes and a tracksuit. 

He was convicted of indecent assault by Tsholotsho provincial magistrate, Mr Thomas Gurajena.

Mnkandla was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. 

The remaining 12 months were further suspended on condition that Mnkandla performs 420 hours of community service at Nshaba clinic in Tsholotsho. 

Prosecuting, Ms Sheila Mpofu said sometime in July, Mnkandla’s wife invited the complainant to their homestead and asked her to clean their bedroom since she was not feeling well. 

The court heard that while the girl was cleaning the bedroom, Mnkandla walked in and found the complainant alone and started fondling her breasts. 

“On the day unknown date during the month of July 2023, Mnkandla indecently assaulted the complainant by fondling her breasts. He went on to touch her private parts without her consent,” said Ms Mpofu.

The court heard that Mnkandla tried to buy the girl’s silence by promising to buy her a pair of school shoes and a tracksuit. 

The girl narrated her ordeal to her grandmother who in turn made a report to the police leading to Mnkandla’s arrest. 

Recently, a 41-year-old man from Senga suburb in Gweru was fined $40 000 or three months in jail for fondling his 16-year-old stepdaughter. 

In February, a 39-year-old man from Victoria Falls was slapped with a 23-year jail sentence for indecently assaulting two eight-year-old male juveniles and a 15-year-old juvenile. Nelson Tuta ordered the complainant to touch his private parts. He then shoved his private part into the complainant’s mouth. 

In 2020, a 59-year-old Hwange man appeared in court for raping and indecently assaulting his 14-year-old daughter’ after he allegedly inserted fingers into her privates before raping her claiming he was checking her virginity. 

Government recently expressed concern over the growing number of young girls who are abused particularly by persons known and trusted by families. 

Speaking during the commemorations of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube said the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey statistics of 2019 indicate that 34 percent of girls in Zimbabwe are married before the age of 18 while five percent are married before their 15th birthday with two percent of boys being married before their 18th birthday. 

Minister Ncube said despite the worrying statistics, Government remained committed to ending GBV in all its forms and efforts are being put in place to ensure that prevention and response services are available to everyone. 

Under the Global Spotlight Initiative programme, which is also being implemented in the province, Government with support from the United Nations and European Union has made a commitment and a declaration to ending GBV and harmful practices.