CCAP reverend jailed 14 years for sex with minor
Rumphi First Grade Magistrate’s Court has sentenced CCAP Synod of Livingstonia cleric Reverend Chiwawa Banda to 14 years imprisonment for defiling a 13- year-old girl (name shielded for legal reasons.) last year.
The girl claimed the 42-year-old Reverend Banda of Chiswamapira Village Traditional Authority Kabunduli in Nkhatabay but based at Luzi in Rumphi, sexually assaulted her three times.
The cleric had also bought a mobile phone for the girl so that he could have more contact with her on Whatsapp.
The police charged him with the offence of defilement of a girl under the age of 16 contrary to section 138 (1) of the Penal Code.
State prosecutor Inspector Maurice Chimseu asked the court to impose a stiffer sentence to deter would-be offenders.
Chimseu argued that the reverend abused his position of trust and responsibility to protect children, and provide counseling to his church members.
He added that cases of defilement were becoming common in the district.
“The suspect planned to commit the offence hence he gave the cell phone to the victim in order to ease communication between the two,” Chimseu said.
Reverend Banda’s lawyer Moses Chinkhuntha of John Tennyson Associates pleaded with the court to give a lenient penalty saying Banda was a first offender, therefore, deserved suspended sentence.
Sentecing the cleric, First Grade Magistrate Cuthbert Phiri said the jail sentence shoud serve as a warning to religious keaders who prey on young girls instead of preaching the gospel..
“As a leader, he was supposed to protect the girl as his own child. The punishment should be a wakeup call to would-be offenders,” said Phiri before slapping the reverend with 14 years IHL.
Rumphi Police statistics show that 27 defilement cases have been registered between January and September this year alone with four happening in the past two weeks.
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These so called Reverands and Pastors in Malawi must go for special training on child protection most especially protecting girl child.
It’s a shame now and again hearing the so called pastor has defiled a child, where do u get the authority to defile the child? What I know the sacred book the Holy Bible doesn’t allow it and it tells us that we must refrain from it. Don’t quench your sinful lust on children. The children must be protected and respected by you men of collars. Shame some of them are denting your profession.
Pastors are one of the people to spiritually safeguard the rights of the children. In Sunday schools make sure children are taught the truth. Be like a father to them not predators salivating on any girl child. I’m mad at such pastors.
One has just been promoted to become a prison chaplain for 14 years because of failing to protect a girl child. Do God’s work rather than taking glory away from our living God.
If a pastor commits such offence I propose he or she should be slapped with 66 years in prison based on the number of books in the Bible he/she failed to obey.
Men, let’s take care of the children most especially girls. Children can’t support or protect themselves. It’s our responsibility to assist and help them enjoy life in a Godly manner.
Pastors kaya Reverands wise up.
Justice has been saved koma we have a case in Mchinji similar to this one which stalled 5months ago. We need justice on this case as well idziwike. Ngati analakwa kapena ayi, kapena ma magistrate aku Mchinji anapatsidwa zambiritu?
Abale!!!, koma atumbuka!!. Jeff wa Jeff sananame kuti mtundu uwu sungatulutse pulezidenti wa dziko. Mwana wa zaka 14 abusa a chitumbuka mumvapo chiani?
Mr Whoever,
Seems you have terminal hatred which needs spiritual operation. The bible says God created man, he didn’t mention or uplifted any tribe. We need to change our mindset and live as man because if we live like man, will be united as man, but if u dismantle man into ur terminal hatred, aaa sorry, Our Malawi will not go any far but stuck in the mud of underdevelopment. Unless we conquer such hatred then purposely united will stand. God forbid.
Hatred has never benefited man at all in history but has always fueled tension. Just think of Hitlers hatred. Did he harvest anything at the end. Let’s live as one if you are really patriotic. Let’s uproot envy, jealous and hatred to build Malawi otherwise no wonder our neighbors are going a step ahead of us because they making advocating unity at cost. U can see umoja wa Taifa, One Zambia one nation.
Lastly don’t rush into comments with hatred. God forgive and bless you.
zochititsa manyazi mpingo basi chi busa chachikulu kumapanga zopusa basi ubusa wo uli pati wawota ng,ombe kapena wotumikila satana mwayaluka basi tikanakhala kwathu ku soud arabia mukanangowona kiyama basi death withuot burial
foolish pastor a disgrace to the gospel, their are a lot them in the church, time will catch up with you and you will go down as sodom and gomora
foolish pastor disgracing the Lord siwokhawo their are a lot of them in the ministry, soon or later you will go down as sodom and gomora
It is unusual that a reverend should be involved in such criminal cases. The mind failed to ignore the impulses of his feelings which later on got the better of his mind. End result, he succumbed. May be it could be true that you cannot control nature. However, when one is idle, Satan is very likely to give an assignment, and has the temerity to go to any person. It is disheartening. The reverend has been handed a 14 year jail sentence. He is aged 42 years. The victim was aged 13 years.
But the reverend should have noticed the environment in which he was working because in northern Malawi, culturally, flirting with underage girls is a taboo. It is a very difficult terrain for one to hide amorous relationship. If one has impregnated a girl, once found, one is punished severe, and it is very harsh indeed among the Mzimba Ngonis. In the other regions, the situation is different, partly because of cultural practices that are infused with initiation ceremonies, M’bwiza being one of them.
In Thyolo where defilement cases are reportedly on the rise, a suspect aged 32 years has been handed a 12 year jail term for defiling a 10 year old girl in Kachere Township. The sentencing in the Rumphi scenario mirrors that of Thyolo. Surprisingly, the difference in the age of the suspects is 10 years whereas that of the victims is 1 year. Courts ought to be applauded on the stiff sentences.
Amene sanachimwepo ayambe kumuponya miyala.
Why are pipo silent here? Kuma akakhala a mpingo wina uja nde ma comments thoo.
Ambwenumbwenu awa tilije nawo suzgo, that’s what they do