Kaliati says SDA pastor facing sex offence didn’t deserve bail

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati has protested against the bail given to Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Pastor Harrison Juwa, who is accused of defiling a teen girl.

Kaliati   said the offence is against society and serious one that did not deserve bail and urged the judiciary not to be insensitive to the society by allowing suspects who defile minors to walk free on bail.

The outspoken minister said she learnt with deep shock that Pastor Juwa, who ministers in Lilongwe’s Area 25 Seventh Day, has been given bail.

Juwa was arrested by the Kanengo Police on allegations that he has been defiling his 13 year old niece and impregnated her.

Kaliati said she was “very disappointed” with the bail and demands speedy justice on the matter.

She said crime against women and children, more particularly rape or defilement, is a monstrous burial of dignity of women.

Kaliati wondered what will happen to young boys if all young girls are impregnated as the pastor has done to his niece.

“Will they find their wife?” queried Kaliati.

Kaliati urged “real men to go for real women as well” and not the toddlers or minors.

“I am deeply shocked to learn that a pastor has been defiling his late brother’s daughter since 2011,” said Kaliati, adding, “We have the legislation Act with us that the maximum penalty for the offense committed is 14 years in jail.”

Since 2011 SDA’s Pastor Juwa has been defiling the girl at the expense of being responsible for her welfare at home.

It is believed that the girl was in standard seven at Kalambo Primary School in Lilongwe before she got pregnant.

Kaliati has since appealed to the public to be alert and report each time cases such as rape and defilement take place in their neighbourhoods.