Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A man from Village Beperi 1 under Chief Maranda collapsed and fell unconscious in court on two separate occasions soiling his trousers with urine when the magistrate was about to give a verdict on his rape case.
Tawanda Mukwasha (29) was in court facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
On December 5, Mukwasha collapsed and fell unconscious, soiling his trousers with urine while he was still in the dock during the mitigating stage. He was carried outside and the court adjourned and postponed his trial to December 12.
On December 12, when magistrate Langton Ndokera was about to pass judgement, Mukwasha again collapsed and fell unconscious while in the dock and was carried out of the court.
Ndokera expressed dissatisfaction over Mukwasha’s conduct, saying though he might have health problems, his conduct seemed premeditated.
He said when one knows that they are on medication, they should follow the prescription and not to wilfully default so as to get a way out.
State facts as argued by prosecutor Angelinah Makonya were that sometime in May this year, Mukwasha proposed love to a 14-year-old pupil who was doing form one at Maranda High School.
Mukwasha persisted with his proposal until the minor accepted before agreeing to have sex with him.
The court heard that the matter came to light after two organisations, the Justice for Children and the Department of Social Welfare were carrying out an awareness campaign at Maranda Clinic.
A police report was made at Maranda police base leading to Mukwasha’s arrest. Mukwasha’s verdict was postponed to a later date.local
