GRACE CHAILE
LUSAKA High Court Judge Susan Wanjelani has sentenced two men aged 67 and 38 , to 45 years imprisonment with hard labour each for separate incidents of child defilement and incest involving girls aged 10 and 14, respectively.
In the first case, Michael Njobvu, 67, a general worker referred to as “Bashikulu” (grandfather), was convicted of defiling a 10-year-old girl, on two occasions in April and June 2024 in Lusaka.
Judge Wanjelani described Njobvu’s actions as a betrayal of the trust and honour typically associated with a grandfather.
“The convict was referred to as ‘Bashikulu’, a position of honour, trust, benevolence and a fountain of wisdom. But he opted to commit one of the most heinous offences against an innocent child contrary to societal norms and expectations. This conduct is totally unacceptable,” she said.
According to evidence presented in court, the girl’s mother caught Njobvu in a compromising situation after being alerted by a neighbour that her child had again been seen entering the convict’s house. Upon forcing her way in, she found the girl hiding inside and confronted the suspect.
Njobvu was committed to the High Court for sentencing by Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya. Judge Wanjelani sentenced him to 45 years imprisonment with hard labour, effective from the date of his arrest.In a separate case, Kennedy Chundwe, 38, of Roma North in Lusaka, was convicted of incest after repeatedly defiling his biological daughter between November 2022 and August 2023.
Testimony from the victim’s mother and aunt revealed that Chundwe was discovered in his daughter’s bed around 02;00 hours on August 11, 2023.
When confronted, he attempted to dismiss the incident and threatened to beat the child if she revealed the abuse. The victim later disclosed that the abuse began after she was physically assaulted for initially resisting his advances.
While acknowledging that Chundwe was a first-time offender and had expressed remorse, Judge Wanjelani said these factors were outweighed by the grave breach of his parental duty.
“The convict, as a father, was supposed to protect the child, not harm her. This position of trust, which he violated, is an aggravating factor,” she stated.
Judge Wanjelani sentenced Chundwe to 45 years imprisonment with hard labour, effective from October 4, 2023, the date he was taken into custody.
