Can the offer of a chicken be enough compensation for 14 year old defiled by a herbalist?
This is the million dollar question hanging over a case of sexual abuse perpetrated by the herbalist in connivance with victim’s classmate.
The girl’s father narrated before a court, how his teenage daughter was promised Hungry Lion by a student, who later handed her over to a traditional herbalist, Dr Kalonga Kanono.
ChileyaChilufya, popularly known as Kalonga Kanono, allegedly sexually abused the child, who in turn confided in her father.
The victim told her father that she was taken to Chilufya’s residence by a female, who initially told her she would buy Hungry Lion at Cosmopolitan mall, the Zambian Daily Mail reported.
Chilufya allegedly apologised and offered to compensate the victim’s father with a chicken.
Chilufya, 52, is charged alongside Natasha Chileshe, 21, a student, and Mwiinji Chileshe, 32, unemployed, all of Lusaka.
The case goes back to June 2, 2024, and the trio allegedly trafficked in a child, within the territorial boundaries of Zambia for purposes of engaging in sexual exploitation.
During continued trial before Lusaka magistrate Amy Masoja-Chilangwa, the teen’s father narrated that Natasha picked his daughter and took her to Chilufya.
He said after the alleged sexual abuse, the victim started refusing going to school.
“She was refusing to go to school, then later she opened up and told us what had happened.”
Mr K said the matter was later reported to Kanyama Police Station.
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The court heard that Natasha was asked to take police to the residence of the person who defiled his daughter
“On June 16, 2024, Chilufya Chileya called me, I almost started recording the conversation, and he said he was sorry and that he did not know that it was my daughter,” the victim’s father narrated.
“He said he was at the border, where he had gone to buy a new Hilux. He said he was coming to compensate and buy a chicken,” he said.
Even while the case was adjourned to May 6, 2026 for continued trial, the riddle is: can a chicken as compensation assuage an offence of that magnitude?
Cami Ezenwa is a writer, editor and concepts developer. He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television, to mention a few.
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