Chisamba Man gets five years for assaulting a child

The Chisamba Magistrate Court has sentenced a 34-year-old man to five years imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting a 7-year-old girl.

Harrison Kachali, of Tumbama Village in Chief Chamuka’s area in Chisamba, has been convicted and sentenced following his plea of guilty to the charge before Magistrate Litungi Litungi.

The accused was charged with one count of assault on a child contrary to Section 248A of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

The particulars of the offense alleged that between February 1, 2024, and December 16, 2024, Kachali assaulted his niece, thereby causing her actual bodily harm.

On an unknown date, the accused allegedly burnt the minor with a piece of burning firewood on her left hand, causing the victim to suffer a swollen palm.

The court heard that on another date unknown, the accused allegedly removed the skin on the wound with a razor blade, thereby inflicting more pain on the victim.

“Last year the accused Harrison Kachali, a young brother to the victim’s biological father Stephen Kombe Zulu asked for a dish of water and put the left hand of the victim into it. The accused then got a razor blade and removed skin on the wound while threatening her not to disclose to anyone,” facts read in part.

Kachali and his family members attempted to hide the crime from the public but an alert member of the public reported the matter to Chisamba Police Station, leading to the convict-now’s arrest.

Under caution administered by the police in Nyanja to ensure better understanding, the accused admitted the charge.

Magistrate Litungi convicted the accused upon his plea of guilty and admission that the statement of facts was true and correct.

During mitigation, Kachali told the court he supports two dependents who would suffer if he was sent to prison.

“The punishment for the offense which you committed is imprisonment for not less than five years but not exceeding ten years. However, I am cognizant of the fact that you are a first offender who has readily admitted the charge,” Magistrate Litungi said.

Upon considering the accused’s mitigation, Magistrate Litungi sentenced Kachali to five years imprisonment with hard labour, effective December 22, 2025.