The Midima First Grade Magistrate’s court in Limbe, Malawi has convicted and sentenced Kennedy Nanjiwa, 58, to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling and impregnating his 17-year-old granddaughter.
Limbe police station Public Relations Officer, Aubrey Singanyama, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, said Nanjiwa was sentenced on October 23.
The court heard through State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Anne Kamwendo that Nanjiwa who is the grandfather of the 17 year old victim has been having sexual encounters with her on several occasions between December 2022 and September 2023 after losing her father.
Prosecutor Kamwendo further told the court that, during the said period Nanjiwa’s wife was admitted at Thyolo District Hospital and he took advantage of his wife’s absence to involve himself into the malpractice with the minor at a river in the area.
The court also heard that the matter was reported at Bvumbwe police post when the minor was observed to be six months pregnant which led to his arrest.
In his court appearance, Nanjiwa pleaded guilty to the charge and asked the court for a lesser sentence citing that he is a family man.
In her submissions, Sub Inspector Kamwendo prayed for a stiffer sentence citing that the convict’s actions were immoral and dangerous to the minor and society at large.
And passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Lameck Mkwapatira concurred with the state hence slapped him with to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour to deter would be offenders.
Kennedy Nanjiwa hails from Maggie village in the area of Senior Chief Bvumbwe in Thyolo district.
Earlier, speaking on her ordeal, the victim explained, “I went to the nearby river to wash clothes, then my grandfather came there and start touching me; he promised to taking care of me and gives whatever I will need. That is how he started sleeping with me,”
“Then I was moved to live with my father’s relatives for some time, when I come back he continue sleeping with me to the extent that I am pregnant. When I told him about the pregnancy, he said he should continue sleeping with me in order not to have problems when giving birth,” she added.