In Zambia, an 11-year-old victim of defilement has narrated to Chongwe Magistrate court how her abuser defiled her and run away with her underwear.
This is a matter in which Gift Muma, 16, stands charged with a case of defilement contrary to Section 138 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
He was appearing before magistrate Kabwe Tembo.
Particulars of the offence are that the accused is alleged to have defiled the minor after forcing himself on her.
The incident is said to have happened on August 7 around 11:00 hours this year. He is alleged to have offered the minor a lift on his bicycle as she was heading to the clinic with her cousin.
The court heard that the accused later stopped the bicycle along a footpath in a bush and picked on one of the girls and defiled her.
The victim told the court that the incident happened when she was heading to the clinic with her younger cousin. She disclosed that the accused who met them on the way offered them a lift on his bicycle.
“He later stopped the bicycle in a bush and asked us who was older between us. Before we knew it he tried to grab me, then we tried to run.
He pursued us and dropped me to the ground, he removed my pant and forced himself on me. He then run away with my pant,” she narrated.
She told the court that her cousin who escaped narrated the incident to some unknown residents who rushed to the scene, but did not find the accused.
She said that she showed the people the route the accused took and they pursued him as she was rushed to the clinic.
The court heard that the accused was not known to the girls.
She however told court that she could identify him because she had a good look at him because it was daytime. She positively identified the accused in court and stated that he was the same person who defiled her.
Another witness, Margaret Chisamu, the victim’s grandmother told the court that an uncle to the girl called him and informed him of the ordeal on that material day.
She said that she rushed to the scene and took the girl to Kanakantapa clinic where they were referred to Chongwe hospital where the matter was reported to the victim support unit.
She said that the neighborhood watch who instituted a search managed to apprehend the suspect who was positively identified by the victim at Chongwe police station.
The court adjourned the matter to October 28 for continuation of trial while the accused is on police bond awaiting his next appearance in court.
