Woman accused of assaulting minor claims injuries were inflicted by ghost of victim’s late mother

A woman accused of assaulting a minor has claimed that the injuries on the boy were allegedly inflicted by the ghost of his late mother.

Longwe Ngosa, a wife of a Zambia Army officer of Appolo Barracks in Lusaka, pleaded not guilty to one count of assaulting a child.

The accused, 29, on unknown dates but between April 1 and July 31, 2023, assaulted her step son, aged 4.

On Wednesday, an investigating officer, Barbara Mutelo, of Matero Police Station, left the Lusaka Magistrates’ court dumbfounded when she stated that according to the accused, the boy was assaulted by his late mother’s ghost.

“Under warn and caution, the accused, informed me that she never did it but the biological mother of the victim who passed away few years ago is the one who has been inflicting the injuries on the child.

“When asked whom she reported to? The accused said she never reported to anyone. She later gave me a free and voluntary reply admitting the charge to say because they were just living the three of them she had no option but admitting the charge,” Mutelo said.

Mutelo stated that the victim, however, told her that he was assaulted by the accused.

“I asked what the mother used to injure him on the face and he told me mummy used a broom. The child had a cut between the fingers on the right hand. When I asked what happen, he said it was mummy who cut me with a knife.” she said.

The boy’s father, a Zambia Army solder said when he was away for four months on a work assignements, during video calls he noticed bruises on his son.

On unknown dates, I saw my son, he had a bandage on his hand and before that, he had a cut on his cheek.

It was reported to me on June 9, 2023. My wife reported that my son had injured himself. I then asked to speak to my son, who did not answer pertaining to his injury but his mother answered on his behalf.

She told me that he climbed on the couch up to the window and down on the floor there was a mug cup.

She said when she asked him what he was doing up there, the boy decided to jump. I asked to speak to my son again and I cautioned him against climbing on top of things,” he said.

Concerning the injury on his son’s forehead, he was told by the accused that the boy fell.

He stated that in July, he received a call from his wife that the child had been beaten at school, of which he advised that the matter be reported to relevant authorities.

Another witness, Bridget Chimfwembe, 24, a neighbour stated that the victim’s brother did confirm that he was beaten whenever he refused to eat, soiled or urinated on himself.

Trial continues on November 22, 2023

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