A 26-year-old man of Mnyamadzi Compound in Sinda District is behind bars after he allegedly defiled a five year-old girl whom he lured with a K4 coin and took to an unfinished house.
According to Eastern Province police commissioner Robert Mweemba, the disturbing incident happened on Sunday, August 4th, 2025, around 15:00 hours, when the girl was playing near the roadside with her friends.
It is alleged that the suspect, Akani Phiri, approached the girl, gave her K4 in coins, and led her to a nearby unfinished building.
Once inside, he is said to have removed his jersey, laid it on the ground, made the girl lie on it and then allegedly defiled her.
But fate had other plans.
While Phiri was reportedly committing the act, a group of boys aged around 13 were playing nearby and started throwing stones that hit the roof of the unfinished building.
The noise forced Phiri to briefly step out and check who was outside before returning inside.
The boys wondered who that man was and suspiciously, one of them informed the owner of the unfinished house, who quickly rushed to the scene and found Phiri with the juvenile.
When she confronted him, he allegedly took to his heels, but community members quickly apprehended him.
The mother of the victim then reported the matter to Sinda Police Station.
Authorities said the man is in police custody waiting to be charged for the alleged offence while the victim complained of painful private parts.
By White Luhanga
Picture for illustration
Kalemba August 6, 2025
