Protesting his innocence in calm, confident tones, 47-year-old Fana Machaka told the court he never touched the teenage girl he is accused of defiling.
“I have a prayer to make before this court. I did not have carnal knowledge with the minor. I went to their place to look for her father but he was not there, then I asked the girl to give me some water to drink.
“When I left, the girl’s parents came to me saying I slept with their child,” maintained the Zimbabwean during his brief appearance before Francistown Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
Three days earlier, on Friday 15 January, Machaka is said to have defiled a 17-year-old girl at her home in Tatisiding’s Newstance ward.
The Masvingo man, who told the court he would conduct his own defence, was also charged with entering the country illegally through an ungazatted point. It was an offence he immediately pleaded guilty to.
Pleading for the suspect’s remand, the Prosecutor, Jacob Handly said, “The accused is also of Zimbabwean origin and he does not have the travelling documents. We are not ready with the facts for entering through an ungazetted point so we plead for another date.”
The presiding Magistrate, Chandapiwa Molefhe duly rolled the illegal entry matter to 28 January for facts reading, mitigation and sentencing.
