A 52-YEAR-OLD ZANU PF councillor had his bail revoked after he was convicted for having sexual intercourse with a 13 year old girl and was remanded in custody to June 13 for sentence.
Witness Sebata, Councillor for Ward 11 in Ntalale who appeared before regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza had rape charges against him dropped but was convicted for contravening section 70 of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23; having sexual intercourse with a young person.
Allegations against Sebata are that on May 16, 2012 he assumed custody of the complainant following an arrangement with the teenager’s mother.
On several occasions during the period extending from May to October 162012 the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant after she consented.
The matter came to light after Sebata found the complainant with her boyfriend and assaulted both of them.
Members of the public alerted the police about the abuse and the complainant revealed the matter after being interviewed by the police leading to Sebata’s arrest.
The matter was postponed after the defence lawyer requested more time to add to his mitigatory facts. In mitigation Thompson Mabhikwa of Mabhikwa legal practitioners stated that Sebata was a councillor who was in charge of various community development projects.
He further stated the accused was a married man looking after his nine children, a mentally ill couple with one child and a child born and living with HIV whose livelihoods would be affected if he was to be imprisoned.
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Johannes Tlou for the state challenged Sebata to provide medical records of the people under his care.
He also requested the accused to produce his livestock register after the councillor who is also a businessman claimed he had two cattle and four goats.
