12-year-old girl narrates horrific experience of alleged sexual abuse by 76-year-old grandfather

A 12-year-old girl has bravely narrated to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court her harrowing experience of sexual abuse at the hands of her 76-year-old grandfather, a retired soldier from Chibolya Compound.

The minor recounted how she was indecently assaulted and defiled by her grandfather, Kanche Muloko, between December and January 1 this year, while helping to clean his house.

When she initially revealed the abuse to her family, including her biological mother, no one believed her due to her grandfather’s advanced age.

She told the court that her grandmother even threatened her against implicating the accused.

However, her mother eventually gathered the courage to confirm the truth and inspected her private parts, leading to the accused’s arrest by the police the next day.

The girl in her testimony described how her grandfather fondled her breast while she was asleep, and days later defiled her while alone with him at his home.

“Grandfather then locked the door around 10:00 hours. He came from his bedroom and undressed. He was left with a grey vest and maroon boxer. He held my hands and legs and also closed my mouth . He defiled me. I was hurt on the private parts. I pushed him away and got the keys and run away and went straight home,” she narrated.

She shared how she was scared to disclose the incident to her mother, fearing she would be beaten, and how her grandfather threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Muloko, is facing charges of indecent assault and defilement of a minor.

Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya adjourned the case to June 5.