Man in for assaulting son for years

Police in Lilongwe on Thursday arrested 30-year-old Paononga Kalonga Phiri of Ndevu Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalolo in Lilongwe for allegedly assaulting his eight-year-old biological son for a long time.

Confirming the development to Malawi News Agency (Mana), Kanengo Police spokesperson Esther Mkwanda said they arrested Phiri after his son, in the company of a well-wisher from the community, reported the matter to police.

Said Mkwanda: “The son said he had always wanted to report the beatings he had been enduring but he said he was fearing for his life. We have gathered information from the community where Phiri stays in Area 25 Sector 7 that all the neighbours knew about the assault but they too were afraid.”

She alleged that when he was brought to Kanengo Police Station, Phiri admitted assaulting the minor on disciplinary grounds.

The minor’s mother reportedly walked out on Phiri when the son was less than one-year-old and the father insisted to keep custody of the boy.

Phiri remarried again but, according to the boy and the community, the boy has endured several beatings for almost every day of his life.

The boy, who like his father, wears dread-locks, said he no longer wanted to stay with the allegedly bullying father and that he no longer wanted to keep the dreadlocks.

Police have since appealed to Phiri’s sister to take custody of the boy’s until further notice.

Phiri has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, contrary to Section 254 of the Penal Code and the charge can attract a 14-year-jail-term should the court find him guilty.