A THREE-DAY marriage with a teenager (14) backfired for a Zimunya man after he was arrested. It is alleged that Barnabas Kumhasi (20) asked the teenager’s hand in marriage from her parents and they consented. However, Kumhasi stayed with the teenager for three days before disappearing. It was later discovered that he had left for South Africa without the knowledge of his ‘new bride’.
Kumhasi is now facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor as defined in Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
His trial was expected to commence on Monday, but was rolled over to Tuesday. However, it failed to commence and he was remanded out of custody to June 30 on $100 bail. Senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura presided over the matter.
It was the State’s case led by Mr Douglas Matiure that on an unknown date during the last four months of last year, Kumhasi knowing that the complainant was a minor had sexual intercourse with her on different occasions.
Kumhasi pleaded guilty to these charges and told the court that he was officially married to the minor.
“I admit that I had sexual intercourse with her, but I am officially married to the girl. I went to her parents’ home to ask for her hand in marriage and they agreed to that.
“After three days, I left for South Africa without the knowledge of my wife and she went back to her parents’ home.
“After some time she learnt that I was in South Africa and followed me there. I sent her back home on September 30. She was not feeling well and had to be taken to hospital where it was discovered that she had a sexual transmitted disease. This did not go down well with her family which opted to report me to the police, yet they had given me their daughter as a wife,” said Kumhasi.
After telling this to the court, the plea of guilty was changed to not guilty since the parents of the minor are alleged to be involved.