RUMPHI: A 47 year old Group Village Headman Ntanira of Rumphi has been sentenced to serve 13 years Imprisonment with Hard Labor for defiling an eight year old girl.
According to statement presented in court by police prosecutors in the district, the convict born Chiza Mkandawire committed the offence in April this year at a nearby bush at Lusani in the district.
The statement further states that after the act the convict instructed the girl not to reveal what had happened by coercing her with pork.
Rumphi Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Khamisi has since hailed the good partnership the police have with communities which he said helps in their operations.
The traditional leader’s conduct received strong condemnation from Chikulamayembe Women’s Forum and other child rights institutions including Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe.
“We rely on local leaders to help fight rights for children in communities and if such is the conduct then we are banking our hope in vain,” noted Tionge Gondwe, Executive Director for Chikulamayembe Women Forum.
Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, an advocate against child labor, early marriages and school dropout had been consistently cautioned against any misconduct by his subjects.
Group Village Headman Ntanira comes from Ntanira Village in the area of Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in Rumphi district.