The First Grade Magistrate court at Nathenje in Lilongwe has convicted and sentenced village headman Ndelere, 55, whose real name is Josophat Chikalema, for indecently assaulting a 9-year-old girl.

According to Lilongwe Police Station Spokesperson Hastings Chigalu, Prosecutor Inspector George Kachapira of Nathenje Police Post, told the court that on 28 December 2024 the village headman went to the victim’s house where he started defiling the girl after learning that she was alone that night, her mother was away attending a funeral.

However, after several attempts trying to rape the girl, it never worked, to the extent that the victim was severely hurt.

The girl’s ordeal came to be known next morning when relations grilled her after noticing that she was failing to walk.

When the victim was taken to Nkhoma Mission Hospital for medical examination and treatment, the results confirmed defilement.

She was later taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital for age assessment where it was proved that she is 9 years old.

In court, the State brought a case of Having Sexual Intercourse with a Female Child, against the village headman.

While pleading guilty to committing the offence, Chikalema’s defence to the charge was that he did not know that the girl was a minor, and asked for leniency to the court.

In submission, the State prayed for stiffer custodial sentence citing the seriousness of the offence, the traumatic experience the girl went through during and after the commission of the offence, and the societal status of the person who committed the offence.

Passing his sentence, First Grade Magistrate Arthur Mtalimanja, pronounced a 10-year imprisonment to Chikalema for Indecent Assault.