Man gets 21 years IHL for defiling step-daughter

Malawi: On Friday, July 29, 2022, the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate's Court convicted and sentenced Stewart Kalungama, 42, to 21 years in prison with hard labor for defiling his 9-year-old stepdaughter, writes Sub Inspector Mabvuto Phiri PRO-Kawale Police Station.

The court heard from state prosecutors, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mrs. Cecilia Zangazanga of National Police Headquarters, and Sub Inspector Humphreys Makhaliha of Kawale Police Station, that the convict married the victim's mother and assumed responsibility as the victim's father.

In 2021, however, Kalungama began coaxing the young girl by inviting her to the bedroom whenever the mother was at work.

He had time to watch pornographic video clips with the girl and told her to practice what she saw with him.

As this became a tradition, Kalungama repeated the act in March 2021 and instructed the girl not to tell her mother. However, the victim became frustrated and informed the mother and housemaid.

The mother reported the incident to Kawale Police Station, where officers issued a hospital referral letter to the victim. The findings were positive, indicating multiple defilements.

The convict appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement. The state then paraded five witnesses who testified against him.

In mitigation, the convict requested leniency, stating that he has a large family responsibility.

In submission, the state prayed for harsher punishment, claiming that as the victim's father, it was his responsibility to care for him. According to the state, instead of being responsible, the convict purposefully defiled her, causing the victim lifetime trauma.

SRM Patrick Chirwa, who passed the sentence, agreed with the state's submission and sentenced Kalungama to 21 years in prison.

Kalungama is from Chimanazo Village in Lilongwe District's Traditional Authority Chitseka.