Grandmother to face trial for allegedly assaulting grandson

A 56-year-old grandmother of Libala South, Fannie Longwe, has been found with a case to answer and is to face trial in a matter where she is accused of assaulting her seven-year-old grandson.

Longwe is accused of assaulting the minor, identified in court documents as AL, on November 4, 2024, in Lusaka, thereby causing him actual bodily harm.

Lusaka Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring Longwe to respond to the allegations.

“I have closely considered the evidence adduced by the State. On the overview of this evidence, there is a prima facie case made out against the accused person. I therefore place the accused on her defence,” ruled Magistrate Mwenya.

The court heard testimony from four prosecution witnesses, including a police officer under the Victim Support Unit, a garden boy, and a school teacher.

During the proceedings, Longwe, who is being represented by the Legal Aid Board, denied the charge of assault on a child.

Her defence team requested two weeks to prepare, and the matter was adjourned to July 30, 2025, for commencement of defence.

The case arose following a report by a garden boy, Jacob Phiri, who informed a school teacher about the physical abuse the child had allegedly suffered at the hands of his grandmother.

Phiri stated that the boy, who had been living with Longwe after being abandoned by his drug-addicted mother, had been whiped with a cooking stick over torn school socks.

Constable Praxida Mutale, 35, from the Victim Support Unit, testified that the boy was in poor physical condition when police found him.

“He was swollen on most parts of the body, unable to walk properly, and had a wound on the inside of his lip,” she said.

According to the officer, the boy told police that he was woken up around 04:00 hours by his grandmother, who became angry over his old, torn socks.

She allegedly ordered him to undress before beating him with a cooking stick.

Mutale testified that Longwe was later summoned for questioning, during which she admitted whipping the boy but denied causing injuries to his mouth.

She told police her daughter, the child’s mother, was a junkie who had abandoned the boy.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.