A 13-year-old boy from Plumtree, Matabeleland South, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for aggravated indecent assault, a sentence that has left his mother in disbelief and fighting for his release.
The minor, whose identity has been withheld due to his age, is currently incarcerated at Bulawayo Prison.
The boy’s mother, who resides in South Africa, told CITE that her son was staying with his aunt during the school holidays in April when the incident occurred.
“There is another homestead belonging to my paternal grandmother, and a woman is employed to take care of it. During the school holidays in April, that woman’s seven-year-old child visited our homestead because schools were closed. The children, all boys, slept in one room,” she explained.
The mother revealed that her son, a keen soccer player, had been exposed to inappropriate material during practice.
“During soccer practice, the senior players were watching pornography and made him watch as well. When he got home, he narrated what he had seen to his siblings, while demonstrating it to the seven-year-old boy,” she said.
The seven-year-old later confided in his mother about the incident, but she initially dismissed it as childish mischief. However, the boy’s father suspected an attempted rape and reported the matter to the police.
The mother, who was in South Africa at the time, said the police initially indicated that no action would be taken because both children involved were minors.
“They went to the police station, and it’s alleged that the police said they wouldn’t arrest my son because he was a minor. The seven-year-old was taken to a clinic for a check-up, and the doctor confirmed that everything was fine. My son was also sent for counselling in Plumtree, and the case was dropped,” she said.
However, the mother was later informed that the case had been re-opened and would go to court.
“I don’t know how the issue resurfaced. I received a call saying the case had been taken to court in Gwanda, and the hearing was scheduled for August 8. On August 7, a police officer went to remind the family about the court date. The mother of the seven-year-old did not attend, but my son’s aunt accompanied him to court,” she said.
The mother explained that her son was questioned based on the information the court had, and social workers allegedly pressured him into responding by telling him he would be sent to prison if he didn’t answer.
“They didn’t communicate with the aunt. They just informed her that my son was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He spent a night in Plumtree prison and was transferred to Bulawayo the following day,” she said.
The mother expressed disbelief at the harsh sentence.
“How can a 13-year-old be sentenced to 15 years, more years than his age? They could have given him a more lenient sentence.”
“I had to sell a cow to hire a lawyer to file an appeal and apply for bail. I am appealing for assistance, as the case may continue. My son is crying, as he is the youngest in the prison,” the mother said.
Stanley Chinyanganya, the lawyer representing the boy, confirmed that the boy was charged with aggravated indecent assault.
“The allegation is that he had anal sexual intercourse with the seven-year-old. At the time of his arrest and court appearance, the boy was not represented by a lawyer. We have now applied for review of the magistrate’s decision, which is being processed. Tomorrow morning, we will proceed to Plumtree to make a bail application to get the minor released,” Chinyanganya explained.
