Malawi – Lilongwe Court Convicts Man of Child Abduction and Attempted Murder

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi

The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court, on Friday, sentenced Gift Kathabwa a 31-year-old man to 21 years in prison for abducting a 14-year-old boy, Brian Madimba.

Kathabwa, with intent to kill, lured Madimba and his friends with promises of going fishing, strangled and threw him into the Lilongwe River.

However, his plan of extracting the boy’s private parts was foiled when villagers found the body.

Kathabwa who was later arrested, confessed to the crime, while revealing an accomplice and leading police to the crime scene.

He pleaded guilty to the abduction allegations, but his accomplice denied involvement.

The court considered Kathabwa’s mitigations but ultimately agreed with the prosecution’s call for a stiff sentence, citing the heinous nature of the crime.

The prosecution, led by Inspector Fancy Sichali, emphasized that Kathabwa’s actions demonstrated “animality behavior” and were unacceptable in society.

Sichali argued that severe punishment was necessary to deter potential offenders.

Senior Resident Magistrate, Shukurani Kumbatila, concurred with the suggestion thereby ordering Kathabwa to serve 21 years for child abduction, pending a full murder trial in the High Court.

Kathabwa, from Chiwamba Village in Traditional Authority Chimutu, Lilongwe, will face additional charges for murder in the High Court.

The case highlights concern about child safety and the need for community vigilance in preventing such crimes. The conviction and sentencing serve as a warning to those who would harm vulnerable members of society.