Gerald Kampanikiza, News Reporter
MANGOCHI – A 42-year-old father to a defiler and a 38-year-old mother to a victim have been arrested by Namwera Police Post in Mangochi for being suspected of forcing the 15-year-old victim into marriage with a 19-year-old boy.
Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer Sub Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi has confirmed and identified the two as Adam Kazembe and Mercy Manyowa both from Traditional Authority Jalasi in Mangochi District.
According to Daudi, on 7th June, 2022, the Senior Resident Magistrate’s court ordered the arrest of the duo following a confession during court proceedings whereby a son (now convicted to 9-years) to the first suspect was being procecuted for defiling the daughter of the second suspect.
“It was revealed that in March, 2022 after he came back from Republic of South Africa, the convict and his father agreed with the second suspect to a pre-arranged marriage between the two teenagers without the victim’s consent and she was being forced by her mother to spend the nights with the convict and perform wife duties while being defiled in the process,” Daudi said.
She further highlighted that the matter came to light in May 2022 after concerned members of the community tipped the class teacher of the victim who is also a Standard 8 learner and the teacher reported the matter to Chiponde Police Unit.
“The police arrested the boy and also issued a referral letter for medical examination at Chiponde Health Center where results confirmed that the victim was defiled,” she said.
Daudi then explained that the suspects will appear before court to answer the charges of forcing a child into marriage which contravenes section 81(a) as read with section 83 of Child Care and Justice Act.
