By CHILA NAMAIKO –
POLICE in Choma have instituted investigations into an incest case involving a 13-year-old girl of Chief Singani’s area, who was been impregnated by her 17-year-old uncle.
The named girl was rescued on Wednesday last week from a two-day marriage to her uncle by Choma District Commissioner (DC) Bernadette Hamweemba and District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Mutinta Mubanga after a tip-off from Chief Singani.
The juvenile was now in the custody of the DEBS’ office where she joined eight other girls also rescued from early marriages in Choma and would be taken back to school.
Southern Province police chief, Charity Katanga, said yesterday that although, she had not yet received the report, investigations had been instituted on the matter.
In a separate interview, Victim Support Unit (VSU) Choma officer-in-charge Evans Chabusha said incest was a serious case against the Laws of Zambia and perpetrators were liable for prosecution.
Mr Chabusha said VSU was ready to deal with the matter and that, what caused delays to arrest culprits in some cases, was lack of interest from affected families especially in rural areas to report to police.
“Incest is a serious case, but the problem sometimes is caused by lack of willingness by affected families to alert police because we are always ready to deal with such cases and bring culprits to book,” he said.
