32 year old Gift Sakala has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment after being found guilty for raping a 12 year old girl.

Report says the convict committed the offense on November, 5 last year.

The girl had just left home going to the market and while on the way Sakala dragged her into the bush and raped her.

The victim`s mother went on to search for her child upon realizing that the child was not home and she was tipped by people that the young girl was last seen with Sakala.

Later, Sakala was caught with the young girl and despite pleading not guilty in court Sakala was taken down after five witnesses paraded against him.

Felix Senzani, the state prosecutor told the court to hand the convict a stiff punishment for violating the young girl`s rights.

Passing the judgment, Senior Resident Magistrate Austin Banda slapped Sakala to 16 years imprisonment as a lesson to other people with the same behavior.

Sakala comes from Changunyuka in the area of Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District.