A 29-year-old teacher of Saint Paul’s Secondary School in Kapiri Mposhi District charged with defiling a 12-year-old girl of the same school has been found with a case to answer.
Kabwe Resident Magistrate Catherine Mumba ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Squirk Mwale of Saint Paul’s Secondary School Compound charged with one count of defilement of a child contrary to section 138 of Penal Code Chapter 87 as amended by Act number 15 of 2005 and Act number 2 of 2011 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that, Mwale on the 28th March, 2025 in Kapiri Mposhi District of Central Province had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of sixteen.
When the matter came up for ruling, Magistrate Mumba found Mwale with a case to answer and put him on his defence.
Facts before the court given by the state witnesses were that the minor was 12-years-old and doing grade four at Saint Pauls’ Primary School.
The court heard during trial that on the fateful day, her guardian, who is also a maid at the same school, left the victim with her two siblings in the house and went for a funeral when the accused took advantage of her absence and lured the girl into his house and had carnal knowledge of her.
The court also heard that on the night of 28th March, 2025 while the victim was sleeping with her sister and brother, the accused knocked at the door and requested the victim to come out around 20:00 hours to which the minor woke up and opened the door to see Mwale.
“Mwale is our next-door neighbour. I heard a knock and wanted to wake up but my sister answered the knock when Mr Mwale identified himself. The following day I found her in bed sleeping,” narrated the young sister to the victim, who is also one of the state witnesses in this matter.
Mwale was arrested and charged for the subject offence on 30th August, 2025 after police recorded a warn and caution statement.
The matter is being prosecuted by Charity Munyonga from the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) while Mwale is being represented by Makumba Mulele from GM Legal Practitioners.
Magistrate Mumba has set March 10, 2026 for the commencement of the defence in the matter.
