By SYLVIA MWEETWA-
THE High Court has sentenced a 44-year-old farmer of Kabwe to 35 years imprisonment with hard labour after convicting him of defiling a minor in the graveyard.
Kabwe High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa jailed Lazarous Tembo of Tika Village for defiling a minor who was the age of his granddaughter in January last year.
Justice Mwikisa said in passing judgment that she was sentencing Tembo to a lengthy prison term so that he could reflect on his actions.
This is a case in which Tembo was facing one count of defilement after he was accused of having canal knowledge of a minor on January 9, 2013.
Justice Mwikisa said it was saddening that children had continued to be defiled by people who had no regard for the welfare of minors and wondered how men feared to go for fellow elderly women.
“It is shocking that a man of your age could destroy the life of an innocent child but if you are that desperate, why can’t you go for older women?” Justice Mwikisa asked.
She added that the court was sending Tembo to prison to reflect on his actions and that she was hopeful he would come back a better person.
Justice Mwikisa said the court would continue to ensure that those found wanting faced justice.
During trial, the prosecution called five witnesses, among them, the girl who testified that she was walking from school to her home when Tembo grabbed her by the neck and dragged her to the graveyard on the material day.
She testified that the accused covered her mouth while having carnal knowledge of her and threatened her against telling anyone or she would face death.
She told the court that when she arrived home she did not tell anyone because she didn’t want to die but bathed and washed her uniform.
Her mother told the court that she was shocked to learn that the accused had carnal knowledge of her daughter and reported the matter to police before taking the daughter to the hospital.