The High Court in Kasama has sentenced a 58 year old man of Mumena Village in Chief Chitimukulu’s Chiefdom in Mungwi District, to 50 years imprisonment with hard labor for defilement.

Before Lusaka based High Court judge Bonaventure Mbewe, was Edward Ngoshe facing one count of defilement contrary to section 138 subsection 1 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia. 

This was in a matter that came up for sentencing hearing in which Ngoshe was accused of defiling his 15 year old biological daughter.

Ngoshe was found guilty and convicted by the subordinate court of the first class for the Kasama District of Northern Province on December 31, 2024 for defilement.

Facts before the court were that Ngoshe on December 10, 2023 had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl under the age of 16 years in Mungwi District where he lived. 

Judge Mbewe, in passing judgment, said he was satisfied with the conviction of Ngoshe by the subordinate court adding that he did not find any flaws in the findings of the lower court.

And in mitigation, the convict through his defence team said he was remorseful of his actions. 

He appealed to the court for leniency adding that he was the first offender.  

Ngoshe acknowledged the gravity of the offence and pleaded with the court to give him a second chance to reform.

“We plead that this court tempers justice with mercy as the now convict deserves maximum leniency of this court,” said the defence counsel.

And in sentencing, Judge Mbewe expressed shock and disgust that Ngoshe defiled his 15 year old daughter, when he should have been the one to protect her from such practices.

He emphasised that despite her age, she was still a child who needed protection, not a woman to be exploited.

 “If your sexual drive was too high, you should have looked for another woman to marry, noting that Ngoshe’s actions border on incestuous nature,” Judge Mbewe said.

The judge also expressed concern with the prevalence of defilement cases in the province and the country at large. 

“This sentence should serve as a deterrent to others. We must protect our children from these heinous crimes, it’s sad that such are prevalent in the province and in the country,” Judge Mbewe said.

He sentenced Ngoshe to 50 years imprisonment with hard labour, effective from the date of his arrest.