Chief embroiled in teen pregnancy saga

A HURUNGWE villager has challenged a ruling by a traditional court penalising him after his 18-year-old son impregnated an underage girl.

Chief Abel Chundu found himself in a spot of bother after the villager, Ison Kanyoka, challenged his ruling concerning his son’s involvement in the pregnancy.

Kanyoka alleged that he was unfairly penalised with the forcible confiscation of two cattle as compensation for his son’s actions, which he deems excessive and unjust.

The incident has divided opinion among community members, highlighting longstanding concerns about the exploitation of young girls in rural areas.

Kanyoka’s son, Brilliance (18), was found guilty after being accused of impregnating a minor from their village.

Kanyoka argued that both parties consented to their relationship, questioning the fairness of the chief’s ruling.

“Chief Chundu is greedy,” Kanyoka said.

“How can I be held responsible for someone who is of legal age?

“The issue of underage sex should be treated as a criminal matter that requires police intervention.”

Kanyoka said he will appeal the chief’s decision and has also reported the alleged theft of his cattle.

“This chief took my cattle without my consent, and that is stealing. I will file a case against him,” he declared.

In defending his actions, Chundu maintained that the judgment was appropriate, citing traditional practices that mandate compensation for such cases.

“According to our customs, when someone sleeps with a minor, the perpetrator must pay two cattle—one for the girl’s parents and another for the chief,” he explained.

He confirmed that he had taken one of Kanyoka’s cattle, and intends to retrieve the second soon.

Chundu also emphasised his commitment to protecting the girl child, stating that he reported the case to the Karoi police under the ‘Not in My Village Campaign.’

“I have reported three cases of underage sexual exploitation to the police, but there have been little to no action taken,” he lamented.

Brilliance’s elder sibling Lloyd Kanyoka said his brother was summoned by Karoi police and directed to get counselling at the department of social development last week.

“Karoi police phoned me to bring my younger brother Brilliance, which i did and was directed to social welfare for counselling,” Lloyd said.

“The girl was also summoned and told to go and write examinations.”

Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association lawyer Seppy Ndlovu said although the consent age was raised to 18 years, there is also clause that speaks leniency if the gap between the victim and perpetrator is less than three years.

“Consent age has been raised to 18 years, but there is a clause that speaks leniency if the age different is three years and below,” Ndlovu said.

In 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act 2024 into law to aid the fight against child marriages.

The law criminalises sexual intercourse with individuals under the age of 18.

A 2024 Unicef report reveals that more than 79 million girls and women (one in five) across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault before turning 18 years. Standard