A 38-year-old barber of Musonweji area in Kasempa District has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Solwezi high court for defiling a nine-year-old girl.
Nelson Sanjo of Munsaka village appeared for sentencing before Solwezi high court judge Obister Musukwa for defilement contrary to section 138(1) of the penal code as amended by Act number 15 of 2005 and Act number 2 of 2011 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that on 11th September, 2025, Sanjo defiled a girl under the age of 16 in Kasempa District, an offence he admitted when he appeared in the Kasempa magistrate court.
According to the facts, Sanjo went to the victim’s home around 09:00 hours and was given food by the girl’s mother after which he left.
Sanjo went back later after the girl’s parents had left home, found the girl alone and took her into the shelter and defiled her.
The facts read that a neighbour caught Sanjo in the act and that the matter was reported to Kasempa police station.
Sanjo was convicted and committed to the high court for sentencing by the Kasempa magistrate court.
Passing sentence in Solwezi today, Justice Musukwa said he had considered the age of the girl and the increase in defilement cases when meting out the sentence.
Justice Musukwa said there was need to protect the girl child and send a message to perpetrators by imposing stiffer penalties on offenders and pronounced a 20-year jail term with hard labour on Sanjo.
” In this matter, I have considered the circumstances under which the offence was committed the age of the victim which is nine years and the rise in cases of such nature,”
” Given the increase in such cases, there is need to remove you from circulation in order to protect the girl child and send a message to those contemplating of engaging in such acts. I therefore, sentence you to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from date of arrest,” Justice Musukwa said.
Earlier in mitigation through Joshua Kalimina from Messers Legal Aid Board,Sanjo asked for leniency from the court saying he was a first offender who regretted his actions.
” My lord, the accused is a remorseful first offender who readily admitted the charge without wasting the court’s time and resources, he informs me that he has reflected on his actions and regrets the incident. We pray for maximum leniency,” Mr Kalimina said.
