Man, juvenile up for unlawful termination of pregnancy
Staff Reporter
VICTORIA FALLS- A Chinotimba local businessman allegedly impregnated a 16-year-old form two pupil before forcing her to take a drug that would terminate the three months old pregnancy.
The girl proceeded to bury the fetus on her parents’ residential stand Monday last week.
According to the police ‘s Request for Remand form, which this publication is in possession of, the 25 year old businessman was arrested on 9 January and jointly charged with the minor for unlawful termination of pregnancy as defined in section 60 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9: 23.
Allegations are that on the 27th of December, 2022, at a tuckshop behind Chinotimba Medical Clinic, the accused person who is jointly charged with the minor, unlawfully and intentionally assisted the first accused (girl) to terminate her pregnancy by giving her abortion pills. The businessman was implicated by the girl who led the police to the retrieval of the foetus.
The businessman did not appear in court but was released by the police yesterday amidst indications that the state will proceed by way of summons.
A relative of the girl that spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the paedophile had been dating the girl for some time leading to her pregnancy. Since terminating the pregnancy, the girl has not reported to school, having been admitted at the Victoria Falls Hospital for treatment. Exhumed remains of the foetus are being kept at the mortuary of the same hospital.
Cases of sexual abuse of the girl child are on the increase in Zimbabwe, prompting pressure groups and legislators to call for stiffer custodial sentences to deter would be offenders.
Last year, a 13 year old grade 7 pupil in the city had to write part of her grade 7 examinations in a maternity ward after a man who had been doing construction work in the neighborhood had caused the pregnancy.
