Man (26) jailed for raping 64 year old woman

HIGH Court judge Eddie Sikazwe refused to exercise leniency in committing to jail a 26-year-old man of Mongu for raping a 64-year-old woman, saying the convict was as good as a son or grandchild to the victim.
Mr Justice Sikazwe, during his sitting in Mongu, sentenced Akabondo Sumbwanyambe to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping an elderly woman.
Sumbwanyambe, who had been committed to the High Court by the subordinate court for sentencing, prayed for leniency but the court refused on grounds that the convict has no respect for elders.
Particulars of the offence are that on January 11, 2014, Sumbwanyambe had carnal knowledge of a named 64-year-old woman without her consent.
The court heard that the victim sustained a swollen hand and bruises on her privates after the incident.
In mitigation read by Legal Aid counsel Imbula Yambwa, Sumbwanyambe pleaded for mercy stating that he was a first offender, a husband and father of three.
But in passing sentence, Mr Justice Sikazwe said: “I have heard your mitigation and that you are crying for mercy. Well, I say that you must be joking. I have looked at the proceedings of this case from the lower courts, and from what I have learnt, the victim is 64 years old.

So, you raped someone who is your mother, or even your grandmother.
“The medical report, which I have here, indicates that the victim was also nursing a swollen hand apart from the bruises on her private part. I do not think I can be lenient. I therefore give you 20 years with hard labour, with effect from January 11, 2014,” Mr Sikazwe said.
The court granted Sumbwanyambe the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

ZambiaDailyMail