Nkosentsha Khumalo
Hidden behind the walls of a rural hut in Zimbabwe is a shocking taboo of a relationship between a 30 Year Old man and his 17 year old aunt which played out in secret with their forbidden affair culminating into a pregnancy that soon ultimately exposed their illicit dalliance.
But what the couple thought was a harmless secret soon revealed its devastating consequences, as the niece’s unplanned pregnancy exposed their forbidden affair and landed them both behind bars.
Faced with the damning evidence of their illicit relationship, the aunt and nephew were charged with sexual intercourse within prohibited degrees of relationship under Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
The pair appeared before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court to answer for their unlawful conduct, both aware that the consequences of their actions could be severe.
State allegations are that on an unknown date but during the month of January, 2024 the first accused person returned to his residence and found the second accused person in the kitchen hut.
He offered her one US dollar in exchange for sexual intercourse, which she accepted.
The pair then agreed not to divulge any information about their encounter. That evening, the two had consensual sex twice inside the hut, while the rest of the family remained in the main house.
The clandestine affair remained a secret until the second accused person discovered she was pregnant.
A tip-off was made to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
During appearance in Court, the aunt and nephew were sentenced to a term of 12 months imprisonment, with 6 months of the sentence suspended for a period of 5 years.
An additional 6 months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that the accused persons each complete 210 hours of community service.
The residing Magistrate considered the verdict to serve as a reminder of the consequences of breaking the law and engaging in prohibited relationships.
Zim GBC News ©2024