A 44 -year-old businessman of Kabanana Compound accused of having sex with seven girls in his shop while later gifting them food and money has been found with a case to answer.
Lusaka resident magistrate, Chrispin Hampungani in his ruling on a case to answer yesterday, said the State has established a prima facie case against the accused warranting him to be put on defence.
Richard Mwanza is currently under police detention to safeguard his life for fear that residents would harm him if he came out after the news went round that he defiled the girls.
Mwanza faces a potential prison sentence exceeding 20 years if convicted of defiling seven girls under the age of 16 in his shop.
He denied the charges.
Mwanza is facing seven counts of defilement of a child contrary to Section 138(1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Allegations state that between June 2023 and November 25, 2023, in Lusaka, Mwanza had unlawful carnal knowledge with seven girls, all under 16 years old.
The court previously denied him bail due to safety concerns, as the court heard he was attacked by a mob and his shop looted.
“I will not grant you bail, and since the state has objected that your life was in danger, you shall remain in custody,” the court ruled.
During trial, one 15-year-old survivoy from Kabanana recalled how Mwanza defiled her eight times without using protection in his shop.
She narrated that on a fateful day, Mwanza called her and a friend into his shop.
He allegedly placed her friend on his lap, exposed his manhood and had sexual intercourse with her friend behind the counter.
The victim further testified that on another visit, Mwanza pulled her to the counter, placed her on his lap, and penetrated her.
She described seeing blood afterwards and developed persistent heavy bleeding, a problem she had never experienced before the incident.
Following the act, Mwanza allegedly gave her K30, which she split with her friend.
She also told the court she developed sores on her private parts and later informed her elder sister.
The girl claimed that each time Mwanza had sexual intercourse with her, he would give her K1, a mojo drink, and a doughnut.
The girl stated that she regularly visited the shop with six other friends, and each time, Mwanza allegedly had sexual intercourse with them.
“Whenever uncle had sex with us, he could give us K15 each, sometimes K10 and K5 each,” she testified.
“He slept with me eight times without using a condom.”
The court heard that Mwanza would lock his shop when he intended to engage in these acts with the girls, who would sometimes come in pairs, threes, or individually.
However, the court yesterday found the accused with a case to answer and put him on defence to tell his side of story.
“I am satisfied that there is a prima facie case against the accused and find him with a case to answer. I therefore put him on his defence,” magistrate Hampungani ruled.
His lawyer, Jimmy Mwaanga informed the court that his client will give sworn evidence and call three witnesses to aid his defence.
The court adjourned the matter to July 30, 2025 for commencement of defence.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba July 29, 2025
