LUCY PHIRI writes
A 23-YEAR old man who was charged K20,000 as compensation for causing pregnancy by his in-law smiled in joy when the Chelstone Local Curt reduced the amount to only K6,000.
This is in a case in which Edward Bwalya, 49, a chef of Ng’ombe Township sued Moses Lungu, 23 of the same area for impregnating his daughter.
Bwalya told presiding magistrate Mary Namangala sitting with presiding magistrate Kennedy Mwansa Mutale that Lungu impregnated his daughter and wanted compensation.
“I discovered she was pregnant in April, I then called Lungu and he accepted responsibility,
“I want him to give me K20, 000 damage price because my daughter is still in school and in grade nine,” Bwalya said.
In defence Lungu said he could not manage to pay the K20, 000 as he was only capable of paying K1,000 because he was out of employment.
The girl told the court that she fell pregnant last year when she was in grade nine and since then she had never seen any support from Lungu.
But the court cautioned Bwalya by telling him that payment of damage was not business or punishment because his daughter contributed to the matter, especially that she knew that she was a school girl before engaging in sex.
“I therefore order Lungu to pay K6,000 with K1,000 being the first installment and K500 thereafter until the whole sum is paid,” said magistrate Namangala.
