Lusaka man pleads not guilty as court hears how he allegedly tricked, sexually abused girl with disability

The courtroom fell into a heavy silence, thick with disbelief, as an elderly man from Mtendere Compound stood before the Magistrate to enter his plea.

The accused, Edward Phiri, an aging resident of Lusaka, found himself facing a grave charge of defilement of an imbecile after allegedly sexually abusing a young girl with an intellectual disability.

The survivor,13, is the daughter of his former tenant.

With a firm voice, Phiri, 69, pleaded not guilty to the charge, denying the accusations that had sent shockwaves through the community.

Standing before Magistrate Chrispine Hampungani, his defense team swiftly moved to apply for bail, arguing that their client was a man of fixed abode, capable of securing sureties, and willing to comply with any conditions imposed by the court.

He further assured the court that he would not interfere with witnesses if granted temporary freedom.

However, the prosecution sought more time to respond, stating that they needed to investigate why bail had been previously denied.

With that, the court adjourned the matter, scheduling February 17 for the bail application response and setting March 7 as the date for the trial to commence.

According to an earlier police statement, the harrowing incident unfolded in a place the survivor once called home.

The young girl’s parents had previously rented a house owned by Phiri, only moving to a nearby residence on January 22, 2025.

Despite the change in address, the girl often returned to visit friends still living in the familiar neighborhood.

On the fateful afternoon, around 15:00 hours, the unsuspecting girl made her usual visit.

Seizing the opportunity, Phiri reportedly devised a ploy, sending the girl to purchase cigarettes from a nearby shop.

Upon her return, he instructed her to place the cigarettes inside his house.

Once inside, Phiri allegedly took advantage of the girl’s vulnerability, violating her in the solitude of his home.

After the act, he reportedly attempted to silence her, offering money and urging her to keep quiet.

But the weight of the ordeal was too much for the girl to bear.

Emerging from the house in tears, she caught the attention of a close friend who happened to be passing by.

When asked what was wrong, she confided in her friend, setting off a chain of events that led to her parents being informed and the subsequent arrest of the accused.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.