Ex-convict on the run after defiling, murdering girl, 6
By George Zulu
POLICE in Kitwe have launched a manhunt for an ex-convict who is on the run after allegedly defiling and murdering a six-year-old girl.
And in Mazabuka have arrested a 45-year-old man for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Police sources close to the investigation at Kitwe’s Riverside Police Station identified the victim as Scholastica Mulenga who was murdered after she was defiled by an ex-convict in Ipusukilo township.
Police sources have identified suspect as Yowani Bwalya.
They said Bwalya was jailed for a similar offence years back and was pardoned in 2023.
Police sources said on the material day, the girl was defiled and murdered while her mother was at work.
The police sources said the woman left Scholastica along with two other children under the care of their grandmother when the incident happened.
“It was at that particular time the girl went missing around 12:00 hours and the family only noted that she was missing around 18:00 hours and when they searched, they could not find her,” the officer said.
The sources said the suspect joined the search for the girl before he ran away.
He said the girl was only found dead and defiled in an unfinished building in the area.
“After a report came that the girl was found dead and defiled, people rushed to the suspect’s house, where he lived with his family to check if he was around but found that he had ran away and when they broke the door of the room where Bwalya was sleeping, they found some hand prints with fresh blood on the wall, a blood-stained mattress and his shoes,” he said.
The police sources said Bwalya was allegedly helped to escape by his mother.
The sources said irate residents demolished the woman’s house after they reportedly saw her packing some clothes and food and took them to unknown place.
Meanwhile, police in Mazabuka have arrested a 45-year-old man for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
In a statement issued yesterday, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Moono Namalongo said a 45-year-old man of Kaleya Station township defiled a 10-year-old girl.
The mother of the child aged 48, reported the case of defilement around 22:30 hours at Mazabuka Police Station after it was established that the girl had been defiled.
“Mazabuka Police Station recorded a case of defilement from a 48-year-old woman of Kaleya Station Compound. She reported that her juvenile daughter, aged 10, of the same residence, was allegedly sexually abused by a male suspect aged 45, also of Kaleya Station Compound,” he said.
He said the alleged crime occurred on February 1 at 15:00 hours and on February 2 at 14:00 hours at the suspect’s residence in Kaleya Station Compound in Mazabuka District.
Namalongo said the victim sustained injuries to her private parts.
Brief facts of the matter are that on February 12, 2026, at around 10:00 hours, the victim attended school and returned home at around 15:00 hours.
“Her mother noticed that she was limping and, upon inquiry, the victim initially claimed to have a wound. Later, after being interviewed at length, the victim disclosed that she had been sexually abused by the suspect. A relative confirmed injuries upon examination. A medical report form was issued to the victim for treatment,” he said.
He said the Community Crime Prevention Unit officers apprehended the suspect and took him to Mazabuka Police Station where he was detained pending court appearance.
