Bangwe man jailed 18 years for defilement

The Midima Senior Resident Magistrate’s court has sentenced 38-year-old Manyenje Maulana to 18 years in jail for defiling a 10-year-old girl in Bangwe, Blantyre.

Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Ireen Muthema, told the court the incident happened on February 15, 2021.

At around 11am, the girl went to Bangwe market to buy charcoal and whilst at the market, Manyenje took advantage and persuaded the unsuspecting girl to follow him to his house in the township where he defiled her.

The innocent girl tried to call for help but to no avail, as Manyenje had threatened to kill if she revealed the ordeal. He then gave the girl a K500 note to silnce her but the girl talked and the matter was later reported to Bangwe Police.

Manyenje was arrested and charged with defilement a case which contravenes Section 138(1) of the penal code and taken to court.

Appearing in court, he denied the case prompting the state prosecutor to parade four witnesses who testified against him. He was later found with a case to answer.

In submission, the state prosecutor pleaded with the court for a stiffer sentence saying the offence committed was serious, and that the girl was tested positive for sexually transmitted infections.

Muthema further told the court that the victim was traumatised, something that will have a negative impact in her life.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court for leniency, saying he is a breadwinner and that he is taking care of his grandparents.

Passing judgment, Senior Resident Magistrate Lawrence Mchilima while concurring with the state prosecutor, quashed the convict’s mitigation factors.

He therefore sentenced Manyenje to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour to serve as deterrent to other would-be-offenders.

Manyenje Maulana hails from Mwanankhu village in the area of Traditional Authority Mkanda in Mulanje.