Two Chipinge men have been sentenced for groping a teen who ignored their catcalls. The two local men, aged 22 and 24, have been convicted and sentenced for the brazen indecent assault that occurred after they targeted the teenager as she walked past a local tuckshop.
According to a detailed account from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the incident began when the two men started verbally accosting the young woman. Witnesses reported that the situation rapidly escalated from crude insults and mockery to a physical pursuit.
The victim, attempting to ignore them, was then chased, deliberately tripped, and forced to the ground. One of the assailants held her down while the other violated her by groping her breasts. In a statement, the NPAZ described how the “shaken victim managed to break free and fled to a nearby homestead to seek safety and assistance,” leading to the subsequent arrest of the pair.
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Two Men Sentenced For Groping Teen In Chipinge
The two men were swiftly brought before the Chipinge Magistrates’ Court, where they faced the full weight of the law. They were found guilty of indecent assault, a grave criminal charge in Zimbabwe.
Their sentence involved a 12-month prison term, with four months suspended on condition of good behaviour. The remaining eight months were converted to 208 hours of community service, a punishment meant to repay the community they had wronged. The NPAZ was unequivocal in its stance, using this case to send a powerful message to the public. They stated,
“The criminal justice system takes all sexual offences seriously. Communities are warned to be on the lookout for sexual predators.”
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A Cultural Shift is Needed, Say Prosecutors
This case throws a spotlight on a pervasive and dangerous attitude where unwanted physical contact, such as groping or fondling, is often dismissed as mere joking or harmless social interaction. The NPAZ emphasised that the law draws no such distinctions. An authority representative reiterated,
“Touching someone without their consent, even if it is ‘just a grope,’ is a sexual crime. What some call ‘play’ leaves victims scarred for life.”
The prosecution body is now urging communities to break the silence that often protects offenders, encouraging everyone to speak out and report such acts immediately to ensure perpetrators are held accountable and future assaults are prevented.
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The post Two Men Sentenced For Groping Teen Who Ignored Their Catcalls appeared first on iHarare News.
