A heavily pregnant 13-year-old from Nkayi shocked a court when she made a passionate plea to marry her 38 year old lover who is responsible for the pregnancy.
She also pleaded not to have her 'husband' sent to jail.
However, magistrate Stephen Ndlovu told her she was not ripe for marriage.
"Your worship, I beg you not to send my husband to jail because there is no one who will look after the child. And he will fail to raise money for the bride price," she said.
The husband identified as Sibanda pleaded not guilty and boldly declared his undying love to the minor.
"We were in love. I did not force her to be my lover. And I had planned to marry her," he said.
Sibanda said he is well aware that the girl is aged 13.
"I knew it but when I told her about the age difference she said she loves me and it does not matter."
But magistrate Ndlovu sentence him to 12 months in jail of which six months were set aside.
She also pleaded not to have her 'husband' sent to jail.
However, magistrate Stephen Ndlovu told her she was not ripe for marriage.
Heavily pregnant 13-year-old girl tells magistrate no to arrest her 28 year old husband. |
The husband identified as Sibanda pleaded not guilty and boldly declared his undying love to the minor.
"We were in love. I did not force her to be my lover. And I had planned to marry her," he said.
Sibanda said he is well aware that the girl is aged 13.
"I knew it but when I told her about the age difference she said she loves me and it does not matter."
But magistrate Ndlovu sentence him to 12 months in jail of which six months were set aside.