Girl (14) disappears at shrine, returns with a baby

Chivhu – Chivhu Magistrate Sam Chitumwa, has slapped a self-styled Johanne Masowe prophet with a three-year jail term after he took and hid a 14-year-old school girl from her parents, only to return her after she gave birth.

George Madamombe (47) was charged with having sexual intercourse with a minor and one year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecutor Tawonga Masaire said the mino r left home to attend a church service on a Thursday and her mother joined her on Friday. When the church was over Madamombe instructed that the minor remain behind because he wanted to have some special prayers with her until Saturday.

Madamombe however told the mother to come to church on a Sunday and she arrived at the end of the service just to collect the minor so she could go and prepare for school on Monday. Madamombe refused to release the girl insisting that her church lessons were still going on.

That was the last she saw of her daughter and frantic efforts to reunite with her were futile. The girl was only returned three weeks after she delivered a baby.

She reported the case at Masasa Police Station in Chivhu in March last year but Madamombe only came to court in December of the same year.

*Masvingomirror*