As the country (Zambia) continues to grapple with a disturbing rise in defilement cases, a 20-year-old man of Ndola has been sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling two young girls.

Ndola High Court Judge Winnie Mwenda sentenced Sidney Kabwe, a security guard, for defiling the girls aged 10 and 11.

On March 31, 2023, Kabwe forcibly dragged the duo into his house and defiled them after which he warned them not to report the crime.

However, one of the victims confided in a friend, who informed her mother about the incident.

In mitigation, Kabwe, speaking through his lawyers, said at 20–years- old he was still young and a first-time offender deserving leniency.

But judge Mwenda said there were aggravating factors in Kabwe’s case, including his victims’ ages and the traumatic experience they endured.