A 37-year-old businessman appeared before the Chipata Magistrates' Court in Zambia on charges of defiling a 13-year-old girl entrusted to his care while his wife was away giving birth at her parents' home. The accused, Chomba Chimfwembe, from Chipata Motel Township, faces two counts of defilement, which he denied before Senior Resident Magistrate Destiny Kalusopa on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Allegations of Abuse While Wife Was Away
According to court documents, Chimfwembe allegedly had carnal knowledge of the victim on two separate occasions in April and June this year. The incidents reportedly occurred while his wife, Regina Tembo, 34, was in Lusaka for the birth of their child.
Tembo testified that upon returning to Chipata after giving birth, she noticed a change in the girl's behaviour. The child had begun locking her bedroom door at night, despite sharing the room with another child, which prompted Tembo to question her.
Wife's Testimony and Discovery
“We were just talking like mother and daughter, and I told her, ‘What if something happens to you? You lock the door, and it’s not safe to do that.’ Then I asked, ‘Are you okay?’ At that point, she opened up and told me my husband had defiled her,” Tembo told the court.
Tembo explained that before leaving for Lusaka, she had left the victim and her other child in Katete with her elder sister. However, her husband later retrieved the two children before she returned to Chipata. After learning of the revelation, Tembo informed her visiting elder sister so she could hear the story directly, and later notified the victim's uncle.
Defense Allegations Denied
During cross-examination, Tembo denied defense allegations that she was fabricating the accusations to gain sole control of her husband's property if he were imprisoned. Earlier, the victim testified that the accused had defiled her while his wife was away.
The case continues as the court considers the testimonies presented, with the accused maintaining his denial of the charges.
