Lilongwe, January 9: The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has vowed to take to task a Seventh Day Adventist Executive Secretary for Central Region Conference Harrison Juwa, 50, for allegedly defiling his 13-year-old niece.
During a press conference in Lilongwe, the Minister responsible Patricia Kaliati expressed concerned over the pastor’s conduct which she described as barbaric and disgusting.
“I am deeply shocked to learn that a pastor has been defiling his late brother’s daughter since 2011. As a ministry we are going to ask the court and the police not grant the suspect bail,” she said, adding, “we have the legislation Act with us that the maximum penalty for the offense committed is 14 years in jail.”
Kaliati further noted the suspect impregnated the girl and has a two months old baby.
“The sad news is that the mother knew about this and kept it a secret, this is bad and we are taking an action against the parent for others to learn a lesson,” the minister explained.
Meanwhile, Juwa is under police custody at Lilongwe Police Station.
National Child Protection Officer in the Malawi Police Service Inspector Alex Ngwala, confirmed the arrest of Juwa.
Ngwala said the child was being taken care of the suspect after the demise of her father. Since 2011 Juwa has been defiling the girl at the expense of being responsible for her welfare at home.
“The case is in the court and we cannot say much on it,” Ngwala explained.
He said the suspect was staying in Area 25 in the City of Lilongwe, he hails from Mkutumula 2, in Ntcheu.
It is believed that the girl was in standard seven at Kalambo Primary School in Lilongwe before she got pregnant.
She said in a related development, a disabled (albinos) girl was abducted for K3 million by a business person in Machinga early this month.
“I would like to inform the nation that my ministry is now geared to conduct a legislation week organised to purposely hunt and arrest people involved in rape and defilement cases,” said Kaliati.
The minister has since appealed to the public to be alert and report each time cases such as rape and defilement take place in their neighborhoods.
