Woman, 93, narrates rape ordeal
By Esther Chisola
A 93-YEAR-OLD woman has narrated to the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court how she was raped by a 26-year-old man while she was taking a bathe.
The woman told magistrate Amy Masoja that the incident happened on January 16, 2024 around 16:00 hours while she was bathing.
She was testifying in a case in which Wilson Banda, a bartender, is facing one count of rape contrary to Sections 132 and 133 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Banda, on January 16, 2024, in Lusaka, had unlawful carnal knowledge with the woman without her consent.
When the matter came up for trial, the elderly woman testified that Banda sneaked into her house and went to the bathroom where she was bathing while naked and took advantage of her.
She testified that Banda is a well-known person to her, as he usually helped her fetch water.
“On the material day around 16:00 hours, I was in the house bathing, and I suddenly heard a small stone thrown on the roof. I asked who threw the stone, but I did not get any response. Immediately, the door opened, there was light in the room, and I saw someone sneaking in. I asked who it was, there was no response, and the person grabbed me, got a blanket, and closed my mouth. He also got a mosquito net and wrapped it around my head. He then grabbed my hands, pulled my legs, pushed me, and then raped me,” she said.
She narrated why she did not call for help because Banda had allegedly threatened to kill her if she screamed.
“The man threatened to kill me if I scream. I was able to identify the man because I usually ask him to fetch some water from the neighbourhood. The man lives 15 meters from my house. After the incident, the man left the house and went into his house. I was naked and scared to scream because I thought he would kill me,” she narrated amid sobs.
“I then reported the matter to the vice-chairperson of the community. The neighbours then contacted my relatives and asked them to immediately come. My relatives arrived and took me to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), and the matter was later reported to the police” she said.
The case has since been adjourned to next year as the victim could not hold back her tears while testifying.
