The Mzimba Magistrate Court has convicted a 25 year old man to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping an 85 years old woman.

The court heard that on 10 November 2018, at Mtonga village, Alifat Ngoma raped a woman (name withheld) of Mtonga village T/A Mmbelwa in the district.

The court also heard that Alifat followed the 85 years old grandmother at her garden where he challenged her that he will rape her and if she shouts, she will die.

Mzimba First Grade Magistrate, George Longwe, said rape is a serious offence which is contrary to section 133 of the penal code.

He said he had given the convict a 13 year jail term considering the age difference and to act as a warning to other low offenders to act as a warning.

“We gave a stiffer punishment because cases of rape and defilement are becoming rampant in the district, so one way of reducing these cases is by giving stiff punishments, “said Longwe.

Ngoma comes from Ngoma village T/A Mmbelwa in the district.