ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-A Malawi Defense Soldier based at Changalume Barracks in Zomba, only known as Mtsinambuto has raped a 29-year-old woman after inviting her to his house to collect money amounting to MK1000 which the soldier was owing the woman after buying her “zigege”.
Narrating the incident at Changalume Barracks and Zomba Police Station, the woman, whose name has been concealed for ethical reasons, said Mtsinambuto who bought her zigege from Namadidi Market where the woman ply her trade, gave her MK5000 to pay for them whose change the lady did not have.
“Since we personally know each other, we agreed that he would give me the money once he has found the change and for two consecutive days, we did not meet each other till on the third day when his maid told me that he was home and advised me to go and collect it since it was located at a stone’s throw distance,” she said.
The rape survivor went on to narrate that when she knocked on the door, the soldier stood on the door and asked her to come closer to collect the money.
“The moment I stretched my hand to get the money, he grabbed me by the hand and threw me into the house. He then twisted my neck and showed me a knife while telling me that it will land on my body if I shout for help. He then pushed me onto the chair where he raped me plain while strangulating me,” she narrated.
The woman, later went to Changalume Barracks main gate to report the incident where according to her, soldiers on duty at the gate advised her to go to the hospital located within the Barracks. While at the hospital, the woman was only given pain killers and sent back.
She then proceeded to Zomba Central Hospital where she was asked to collect a police report before being assisted.
When she went to report the matter at the Zomba Police Station, the woman was later assisted and asked to report back with the medical findings later.
The following day, while in a company of seven fellow soldiers, Mtsinambuto asked the woman to make her offer so that the issue ends at that level a thing she refused.
She said she told him that she needed sometime to heal before engaging herself in any discussion.
The victim who now cannot twist her neck told us that the following day she was summoned to go to the same police where among the CID police officers she met, she remembers one female officer as Mithi who convinced her to withdraw the case because once the case goes to court, Mtsinambuto will be fired from work.
“ACID female officer identified as Mithi told me that he has told the Soldier to give me MK1 million and convinced me to receive it and withdraw the case which I again refused because of the pain I was going through and in no time, the soldier in company of military police officers from the Barracks found us at the police station,” she said.
She added to say that “officer Mithi then told them that she had discussed with me and that I had demanded a sum of K1, 000, 000. However, another MDF soldier who came with the team said he only had K100, 000 before Mtsinambuto pledged to add the other K1, 000, 000″.
When she refused to receive the money again, Mithi started shouting at her and insulting her while threatening her that her case lacked basis and she will only get MK100, 000.
A confidant within Zomba Central hospital has confirmed to us that the results from the test turn out positive and that the woman was indeed raped as they found semen discharges in her vagina.
“She indeed came and she was examined, the results were positive and medical results confirmed penetration,” said our source.
When contacted Zomba Police Station Publicist Patricia Sipiliyano to confirm if the victim reported the matter on Friday, August 15, 2025, she responded, “Give us time to investigate the matter as its criminal in nature”.
Sipiliyano counterpart, MDF publicist Mnelemba failed to pick calls fro The Maravi Post since Friday.
Meanwhile, the victim’s neighbours have expressed fear over her security.