Man to spend 18 years in prison for assaulting a 64-year-old woman

Principal Resident Magistrate Court sitting in Nkhata Bay District, Thursday, convicted and sentenced a 25-year-old Vide Magwaza to 18 years’ imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for injuring his 64-year-old aunt for suspecting her of practicing witchcraft.

Through state prosecutor, Andrew Singini, the court heard that Magwaza, on June 13, 2023 was drunk and started accusing his aunt, Lydia Mphande of bewitching his mother.

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Singini further said that Magwaza using a panga knife hacked Mphande in the face and chopped off her three fingers on the right hand.

He added that the matter was then reported to Chintheche Police Post where officers rushed to the scene and took the victim to Chintheche Rural Hospital where she was further referred to Nkhata Bay District Hospital.

“Police instituted investigation into the matter leading to the arrest of the suspect on June 15, 2023. He was charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm contrary to Section 235(a) of the Penal Code,” Singini told the court.

Magwaza pleaded guilty to the charge on his first appearance in court and he was convicted accordingly and in mitigation, he prayed for leniency for he looks after his pregnant wife.

Singini asked the court to administer a stiff punishment on Magwaza for the fact that the convict was supposed to protect the victim who is an elderly woman.

Passing the sentence, Principal Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda quashed the mitigating factor and concurred with the state, saying the convict had planned to commit the crime.

 “He had a panga-knife meaning that he planned for commit the crime and he requires to be taken away from the community to protect the elderly from such humiliation,” said Chamwenda.

Magwaza who hails from Kamanganjulu Village in the area Traditional Authority Malanda in Nkhata Bay District