Mother seeks justice for defiled daughter

A Ndirande-based mother has suffered a double tragedy as her 16-year-old deaf and dumb daughter is suffering from fistula resulting from her defilement last November.

She says her daughter now wets herself constantly as she has no control over her passage of waste following her sexual attack.

At a very tender age prior to the defilement, the girl (name withheld) suffered from meningitis, which led to her sight and hearing disabilities.

The mother now says she is frustrated that her quest for justice three months after her child’s ordeal has been elusive.

Police identified the suspect as Dave Mkandawire, 24, popularly known as Ngeya. He comes from Mavuka Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Jalavikuwa in Mzimba but resides in Safalawo, Ndirande.

She explains: “It was on November 1 2013 when I discovered that my daughter had been defiled. I noticed her private parts had widened and she had difficulties in walking. “A witness saw the suspect and he was arrested. I took her to hospital where defilement was confirmed. The suspect was released four days later.”

The mother alleged that after several follow-ups with Ndirande Police, she was told that hearing of the defilement case had been set for November 18 2013 at Soche Children’s Court. But when she went there, she found no one.

She said she was told her daughter’s case was referred to the State Advocate but that since then, she had been told nothing, including when the trial would begin.

“Cases of men sleeping with animals are heard within the shortest period of time, with convictions, what more a human? My daughter deserves justice for her trauma and injury. I have had to seek help at Eye of the Child in the hope of [seeing justice],” said the mother.

Executive director of Eye of the Child, Maxwell Matewere, said in an interview last week that he has seen the victim’s medical report confirming her defilement, which was submitted to authorities as evidence.

Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa confirmed that Mkandawire was charged with defilement.

He said Mkandawire appeared in court on November 5 2013, but was given bail after witnesses failed to show up.

“The victim is related to one of the traffic officers at Ndirande Police, so police prosecutors recused themselves on this ground. The case was referred to the State Advocate, who is yet to set dates,” said Gondwa.

Paralegal officer in the State Advocate’s office, Harold Mola, confirmed on Thursday that they were handling the case. He said no dates have been set because they are yet to record one witness, which will be done on Monday.