ENOCK KADEMAUNGA writes
@SunZambian
A 36-YEAR-OLD woman of Chongwe has told the Lusaka Magistrates Court that her daughter was defiled by her husband and that he was responsible for her second child.
The woman also told the court that the victim was initially afraid to tell her that her step father was the one responsible because he threatened to kill everyone in the house.
This is in the matter in which Tobias Chilimbo, 39, of Munyeta village in Chongwe is charged with defilement.
It is alleged that between January 2, 2014 and January 9, 2017, Chilimbo, a general worker, had unlawful carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 16.
When the matter came up before Magistrate Ammie Masoja, the woman testified that in 2005, her husband died and remarried Chilimbo the following year and they lived together with their six children.
She said in 2016, her daughter who was 14 years at the time got pregnant and she informed her that the man responsible for her pregnancy was Peter.
“I then went to see the head teacher at Itope Primary School so that we can look for him. The head teacher said there was nothing that can be done,” she said.
She testified that her daughter later conceived again and when questioned, she said it was Chilimbo who was responsible for the pregnancy.
The woman testified that the matter was later reported to the police and her husband was apprehended.
At this point Magistrate Masoja asked why she never reported the matter to the police the first time that her child fell pregnant as the conception was as a result of defilement.
The woman who had difficulties explaining said at the time she was in a state of confusion and only reported the matter to the head teacher at the girl’s school.
“I want to ask if there is motherliness in you. It is only now you are telling us that you lost your senses, I can summon the head master and he can be charged with concealing this issue, “Magistrate Masoja said.
And when asked if she informed other relatives about the incident, she said she only informed them in 2016.
In cross examination, Chilimbo asked his wife if she had any reason to suspect that he would have sex with his stepdaughter, the woman replied in the negative.
At this point public prosecutor Siphiwe Malundu applied that Chilimbo undergoes paternity test to ascertain the real father of the victim’s two children in the interest of justice.
However, Chilimbo objected to the application but Magistrate Masoja dismissed the objection so that the results could prove whether he was the father or not.
The case has been adjourned to September 13, and Chilimbo was remanded in custody.
In the last sitting, the victim testified that she fell pregnant on two occasions and had two children after her step father repeatedly had carnal knowledge of her.
She further explained that after giving birth to her first child, her stepfather continued having sex with her as if she was his wife.
The girl said when she told Chilimbo about it, he gave her Panadol and other concoctions to drink so that she could terminate the pregnancy but she never took the medication.
