Deaf, dumb woman testifies
Written by Millennium on July 24, 2019
MULENGA MUSONDA writes
@SunZambian
A MAN in his 30s has appeared in the Choma Gender Fast track and User-friendly Court for allegedly indecently assaulting a deaf and dumb woman.
Particulars of the offence are that Stanford Munsanje of Choma’s Macha area on May 28, 2019, in Choma indecently assaulted a 22 years old woman of the same area contrary to the laws of Zambia.
When the matter came up for the continuation of trial before resident magistrate Ethel Phiri, the victim testified with the aid of a sign language interpreter.
She told the court that on the date the incident happened she was in the field plucking some okra while another woman was some meters away cutting grass.
“As I was plucking okra a man I did not know called me, but I explained that I could neither hear nor talk. I continued with what I was doing, but he came back carrying a chicken and carrier bag.
“The man then said he wanted to marry me as he presented the items together with the money to me, but I refused,” she said.
Munsanje allegedly started dragging and pulling her.
When she resisted he allegedly hit her and she fell to the ground.
“He climbed on top of me and held my waist so tight. He squeezed my neck and tore my skirt, but I could not scream because of my condition,” the 22-year-old woman narrated.
She said Munsanje ran away after the woman who had been cutting grass heard some noise and came to her rescue.
When she went home she explained what had happened and a manhunt was launched.
Munsanje was later apprehended the same day.
The trial could not continue because the arresting officer, Inspector Mukela Sendoi, in his testimony said Munsanje had confessed that he had tried to rape the victim when she declined his love proposal.
The magistrate adjourned to July 25, 2019, and ordered a trial within a trial to ascertain whether the confession was done freely and voluntarily.
Munsanje is still remanded in custody.
