By Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, 14 August – A man from Linda Township, Lusaka, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, possibly keeping him incarcerated until his 90s, after being found guilty of repeatedly defiling his own daughter, resulting in her pregnancy and the birth of a son.
Roderick Nyambe, a 49-year-old farmer, was convicted of incest, which involves engaging in sexual activity with a blood relative knowingly. The High Court handed down the sentence following Nyambe’s conviction in a lower court.
The presiding judge, Catherine Phiri, strongly admonished the convict for his reprehensible behavior, which spanned over a period of about eight years. She expressed disgust at Nyambe’s explanation that he committed the acts with his daughter to bring wealth to himself and his family.
Judge Phiri dismissed his claim that a witch doctor provided him with charms to achieve riches as unfathomable. She labeled his actions as barbaric and stated, “From his disgusting and criminal conduct, the convict has destroyed not only the life of his own daughter but also the life of an innocent child. The stigma that will attach to the life of the child born to him and his daughter will take a lot of effort to normalize. We leave it only to God to be present in the life of this child.”
The judge emphasized the need for a stringent sentence as a deterrent for others who might contemplate such heinous acts. Nyambe was sentenced to 50 years in prison from the date of his arrest.
The series of sexual crimes were committed at various times between January 1, 2013, and December 2021, with allegations that Nyambe’s wife allegedly consented to the acts.
The case highlights the commitment of the Zambian legal system to address and condemn crimes of this nature, ensuring justice and protection for victims.- Namibia Daily News
