Justice Ernest Mwanamwambwa has expressed concern over the increased cases of defilement.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said despite the amendment which was made on September 28, 2005, on defilement, some men have continued to engage in the act that involved children under the age 16.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said that for the past eight to 10 years there has been an increase in reported cases of defilement, which prompted the judiciary to make amendments to the Law dealing with defilement.

He was speaking at the opening of criminal sessions of the High Court in Chipata today.

“The changes were made on September 28, 2005, which amended the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, but before the amendment there was no minimum sentence for defilement”, he said.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said before the amendment there was no minimum sentence for defilement as sentences ranged from One day to a minimum of life improsonment.

He said the 2005 amendments set the minimum sentence for defilement at 15 years improsonment adding that the same minimum sentence was set for rape and indecent assault.

“In my view Courts should impose sentences far above the minimum of 15 years, such long sentences that are meant to achieve three main objectives. One is to keep the culprits away from society so that they do not repeat the offence,” he said.

The second was to aim at warning people with similar intentions, to desist from indulging in defilement of children while the third was to register societies disapproval towards defilement.

Justice Mwanamwambwa noted that before the amendments, defilement was only confined to men who had canal knowledge with girls below the age of 16 years adding that it now also covers women who indulge in the same act with boys below the age of 16 years.

Justice Mwanamwambwa disclosed that the second major change that was brought about by the September 2005 amendment was child trafficking.

Before the amendment child trafficking was not an offence, which on conviction, attracts a minimum of life improsonment for ordinary child trafficking but that when a child is trafficked for sexual purposes, it attracts the minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

He said the amendment also introduced a new criminal offence in relation to the girl children and women known as sexual harassment under Section 137A (1) of the Penal Code.

He has also advised women to leave within their limits at wouk places and institutions of learning.

And Eastern Province Prisons Commanding officer Aaron Katota said a total number of 1,124 cases would be dealt with.

Senior superintendent Katoka said a total number of 534 cases were from Chipata, while Petauke and Katete had 177 and 134 respectively.

He said other cases to be dealt with from Lundazi and Nyimba district were 136 and 143 respectively.

The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) has welcomed the decision by President Mwanawasa to recall Zambia’s Ambassador to Libya, Mbita Chilata.

CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda said in a statement today that Mr Chitala was appointed to nurture relations between the two countries and be supportive of ways the Zambian government was working with the rest of the continent and not to behave in an unprofessional manner.

Mr. Musonda said Mr. Chitala’s role was to do things in line with government policy and consult at all times when doing things, either official or private, but hinging on relations between Libya or the rest of Africa.

“We think his statement was aimed at making Libya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa appear to be more progressive in moving the African Union agenda. There was also an impression created that the rest of the leaders on the continent were either slow to move or were mere laggards who should be left behind for now,” he said.

He said if Mr. Chitala had consulted on the matter, he could have been advised to be diplomatic because he was an appointed agent by the Zambian people through the Head of State.

He reminded Mr. Chitala that achieving a United Africa cannot take four nations only as he proposes but that the process needs rigorous consultation and active involvement of stakeholders, because Zambia is a multi-party democracy.

“We do not want our country to be tied to international agreements anyhow because one person feels so. The idea of One Africa should be supported by all of us citizens and consider interests of our future children who will be there long after we are gone,” he added.

Mr. Musonda said the President was in order to recall Mr. Chitala and that this should be a warning to other diplomats who want to champion causes when they have no authority to do so.

He urged President Mwanawasa to continue screening the diplomatic service where some diplomats have taken it as an opportunity to do personal businesses.

He said Dr. Mwanawasa should also consider sending more younger officers in the diplomatic service who are energetic and eager to serve Zambia diligently.