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Thubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old man from Hope Fountain for allegedly customarily marrying a Grade Seven pupil in October.
The 15-year-old pupil’s family accepted eight head of cattle for lobola.Herold Mudenda yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Singandu Jele facing a charge of having sexual intercourse with a minor.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months imprisonment wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next four months.

Mudenda told the court he was in love with the pupil and they had agreed to customarily marry on October 20 this year.

“We’re in love, I asked for her hand in marriage from her family and they agreed. I paid lobola for her and I gave her family eight beasts as sign of my love for her,” said Mudenda.

The girl – in her warned and cautioned statement – said she was happily married.

“Mudenda is my husband. We agreed to marry and stay together. I enjoy my marriage and my parents support us.  I don’t find anything wrong with what we’re doing,” said the girl.

Prosecuting, Munyonga Kuvarega told the court that Shepherd Mberwe, a social welfare officer, received a tip off that a Grade Seven pupil from Hope Fountain was married.

“Mberwe contacted the girl’s aunt and told her to fetch her from her boyfriend and report the matter to the police,” said Kuvarega.

On November 27, Mberwe went to Mudenda’s home with a police officer and arrested him.