A 17-year-old Zvishavane boy who cannot be named to protect his identity, has been sentenced to five years imprisonin prison for raping a 14-year-old girl.

He will, however, not stay behind bars, as his sentence was wholly suspended by Zvishavane Magistrate Archie Wochiunga.

It was the state’s case that the 17-year old teenager, who is currently in form two at George Chipadza Secondary School and resides in the Highlands suburb of Zvishavane, had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl without her consent.

According to state papers, on 21 October, the accused followed the juvenile to the river, where he caught up with her. He then lifted her and carried her to a nearby pit where he raped her.

The accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Zvishavane Magistrate Archie Wochiunga to five years in prison, but the sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar crime in the next five years.

Recently, a teenager from Zvishavane, who was described in court as troublesome by his mother, was also sentenced to five yearsyears' imprisonment for raping his two-year-old cousin.

However, he will be serving two years behind bars after three were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offense in the next five years.