Court told girl feared being stabbed during alleged sexual abuse by her father

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has heard that a girl allegedly sexually abused by her biological father, a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Flight Sergeant, kept silent during the incident because she feared he would stab her.

Avondale-based clinical officer at ZAF Twin Palm Base, Nelly Simwiinde, 38, testified that the victim’s mother brought her daughter to the clinic on January 7, 2025 suspecting she was pregnant after noticing a swelling in her stomach.

Simwiinde said pregnancy tests confirmed the mother’s suspicions. Initially, the girl refused to reveal who was responsible, but later confided—after her mother was asked to leave the room—that her father was the perpetrator.

“She said it happened once, in August 2024, and that she did not shout because her father threatened to stab her with a knife. She said he was drunk at the time,” Simwiinde told the court.

The court heard that the girl was later referred to Maina Soko Military Hospital for a scan, which revealed she was 23 weeks and five days pregnant. Simwiinde advised the mother on the health risks associated with terminating the pregnancy.

During cross-examination, the clinical officer confirmed that no DNA test had been conducted at either ZAF Twin Palm Base or Maina Soko to establish paternity. She agreed that, without DNA analysis, it would be difficult to conclusively determine the father of the child.

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