A Zimbabwean man who was accused of rape has been freed of blame by the court after the victim admitted that they were lovers.

The man had thought the woman was “underage” before it was proved in court that she was much older and had actually tricked him to have sex with her. 30-year-old Methuseli Ncube had pleaded not guilty to a rape charge and told the court that he was in a relationship with Simangaliso Nkala. According to <a href=”https://zimnews.net/girl-begs-rapist-for-sex/”>Zimbabwe News</a>, the woman was the one that insisted that they had sex. Nkube said, “She insisted that we have sex. She told me that she was 16 years old. I suggested that we wait till she turned 18 but she laughed at me saying I’m not a real man. I’m the only one who sees her as an underage girl. She said she had slept with men before. “She sent two children to fetch me. On our way she said she was tired and wanted to rest. She suggested that we sit behind a rock. That was when we slept together. I realised that she was not a virgin. I used a condom but she mocked me for doing so.” He added that the incident occurred in August last year while he was accompanying her to her grandmother’s home. Bulawayo Regional Magistrate, Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze, acquitted Ncube after Nkala also testified that she and her alleged rapist were lovers.