Zimpapers Logo

Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A 61-year-old “sugar daddy” was yesterday convicted and sentenced for having sexual intercourse with a Form One pupil on two occasions. The man would buy school uniforms, recharge cards and call the girl aged 14 from the time she was doing Grade Six. He threatened to kill her if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

Lovemore Muchairi, who made headlines for proposing love to pupils from primary schools in 2012, was initially charged with two counts of rape but regional Magistrate Mark Dzira convicted him of a lesser crime saying the father of five had consensual sex with the girl.

In passing judgement, magistrate Dzira bemoaned the old man’s behaviour of bedding the teenager old enough to be his granddaughter.

“The evidence produced in this court does not correspond with the charges thus this court finds you guilty of having extra-marital sex with a minor,” said magistrate Dzira.

Speaking through his lawyer during mitigation, Muchairi pleaded with the court to give him a fine coupled with wholly suspended years in prison as he was old and a first offender.

“Your worship my client has already been subjected to punishment in public through negative publicity from the media, way before he was in court. He is an old man with five kids and we pray for a lenient fine,” said Shenje.

The state led by Tinashe Dzipe objected and reminded the court that the intention of the law is to protect the girl child from sexual exploitation and dangers associated with early sexual activity.

“The girl fell pregnant as a result of the sexual exploitation and though the pregnancy was terminated it will leave a permanent scar on her life. Though he was convicted of having sex with a minor, his offence is still serious,” said Dzipe.

Dzira sentenced him to eight years in prison saying it was important for people to understand the courts did not condone sexual abuse of girls.

“Of the eight years, two have been suspended for five on condition of good behaviour meaning you will serve six effective years in prison.”

Muchairi broke down when he heard his sentence.

Dzira told the court that on a date unknown but in the month of April 2013 Muchairi who was driving his vehicle met the girl along Pitbrook Road, Southwold and offered her a lift. The girl agreed and got into the car and he drove to a bushy area in Newton West.

He then stopped the car and told the girl not to scream as she was going to die if she did. He then raped her once.

Muchairi also met the girl sometime in May at around 4PM and followed her proposing love to her. The girl refused telling him that he was too old. While walking he covered the girl’s mouth from behind and raped her threatening to kill her if she told anyone.

He continued seeing the girl and would give her money ranging from $1 to $5. The girl’s mother suspected that she was pregnant and bought a pregnancy test kit which showed a positive result.

A police report was made and Muchairi was arrested.

In his defence, Muchairi said he was in love with the girl and that her mother and grandfather would continuously take recharge cards on credit from him.
“I had consensual sex with her and the mother reported me when I refused to pay $6,000 for damages and $500 for the termination of the pregnancy. I only gave them $50 for the pregnancy test and all these allegations are meant to fix me.”