By DELPHINE ZULU –
THE Lusaka Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard a moving testimony by a seven-year-old girl who was defiled by a 47-year-old head teacher, in June this year.
The girl who positively identified the defiler, Soul Banda at a private school said she was called and asked to go into an empty classroom where he later joined her.
The girl amid sobs and being consoled by her mother said the defiler threatened to kill her if she decided to tell anyone so she kept strong until she knocked off.
Banda was charged with defiling the girl, an incidence which happened on June 2, this year.
In a continued trial yesterday before Ireen Wishimanga, the girl told the court that after entering the classroom, Banda locked the room and asked her to remove her clothes and forced himself on her.
“He told me to remove my clothes, he also removed his trousers, put me on the table, put his “dudu” (meaning his manhood) and started shaking me for some time, I felt the pain but when I wanted to cry he closed my mouth,” she said.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Dora Siliya who was also executive director at ‘Share You Care’ an organisation fighting defilement said it was sad that cases of defilement had continued to be on an increase.
In an interview before the matter commenced, Ms Siliya urged men to change their mindset and begin to denounce defilement.
“I am here to show solidarity to those whose children are victims of defilement, I think it should start with the men themselves, grandfather, fathers, uncles boys everyone must begin to see the ugly face of defilement and end the scourge,” she said.
She said the mother of the defiled girl was her former worker at her named saloon and had to abandon work and stay in Kabwe for fear of society victimising her daughter.
And a 13-year-old girl of Kawama Township in Kitwe has allegedly been defiled, while on her way from school.
The girl was allegedly defiled by a 47-year-old man who forced her into his house around 14:00 hours yesterday.
Copperbelt Police chief Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident and named the suspect as Leonard Besa of the same township.
Ms Kasosa said the victim complained of painful private parts and was issued with a medical report.
She said the girl’s mother reported the incidence to the police and Besa has since been detained at Mindolo Police Station.