The Kabwe Magistrate Court has adjourned the matter involving a 29-year-old teacher of Saint Pauls’ Secondary School in Kapiri Mposhi District charged for defiling a 12-years-old girl.
Resident Magistrate Catherine Mumba adjourned the matter to April 10, 2026, after the prosecutors from the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) represented by Henry Katwishi told the court that his team was not ready to proceed with the defense trial.
This is in the matter in which Squirk Mwale of Saint Pauls’ Secondary School Compound in Kapiri Mposhi is 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 March 28, 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 continuation of trial before Resident Magistrate Mumba, Mwale was found with a case to answer and has been put on his defense.
Facts before the court given by the state witnesses were that the minor is 12-years-old and doing grade four at Saint Pauls’ Primary School.
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 incident occurred on the night of March 29, 2025 while the victim was sleeping in the house with her sister and brother when the accused knocked at the door and called her out around 20:00 hours.
“Mwale is our next-door neighbor. 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 the matter.
Mwale was arrested and charged for the subject offence on August 30, 2025 after recording a warn and caution statement by Assistant Superintendent Oswald Silungwe of Kabwe Central Division Police.
The matter is being prosecuted by Charity Munyonga and Henry Katwishi from the NPA while Mwale is being represented by Makumba Mulele from GM Legal Practitioners.
The prosecution established a prima facie case against Mwale in the last court session before adjourning the matter March 10, 2026.
However, the court has now set April 10, 2026 for the commencement of the defense trial.
