The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court at Kafukule in Mzimba District has sentenced 21-year-old Owen Phiri to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a six-year-old child.

Phiri, a tenant of the victim’s father, had a tendency of playing with the child. The offence occurred on July 21, 2023.

Senior Resident Magistrate Abdulrahman Maulidi noted that Phiri, as a tenant and supposed guardian, acted contrary to his responsibilities.

Reacting to the development, Watson Mkandawire, the Livingstonia Synod Aids Programme (Lisap) project officer, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, emphasizing its potential to deter Sexual Gender-Based Violence cases in rural areas with limited access to justice systems.

Lisap sponsored the mobile court to bring justice closer to the people.