RABECCA BANDA writes
@SunZambian
A Lusaka woman has narrated in the magistrates court how a man allegedly raped her while she was living in his home.This is in a matter where Silumesi Njekwa is facing two counts of rape and indecent assault on a woman.It is alleged that on March 8 2020, the accused had canal knowledge of a woman without her lawful consent.The victim told magistrate Felix Kaoma that Njekwa is her father’s elder brother’s son.She said she started living with him after her father passed away in 2014.She said he wasn’t married when they were living in Avondale Chainda and the house was a one bedroom.She said the accused would go and sleep next to her on her bed during the night.She said in 2015, his behavior become worse to extent that he would hit her when she does something wrong.She said while hitting her, he would remove her chitenge and ask her to turn around and then he would start rubbing his private part on her private part.She said sometimes he would hit her with a cable and a rope and even if she cried he never stopped.She said she could not report because none of her relatives were in Lusaka and her mother passed away.she was also scared, she told the court, that he would do something worse to her if she told anyone.She said in 2017, they shifted to Mtendere and Njekwa got married.She said he continued going to her room in the night and rubbing his private part on her private part.As shee never got along with his wife she couldn’t tell her what was happening.She said on March 8 2020, she was at the neighbour’s house when the accused arrived back home with his wife.She said his wife had left for a few days following a misunderstanding they had.She said she went to enter the house but Njekwa closed the door on her.She said she knocked once and because he did not open for her, she went back to the neighbors house and spent a night there.She said the following morning when she returned home, he started shouting and slapped her.She said he told her that the same way he beats his wife, he can also beat her.She said he pushed her to his bedroom, looked the door and took off hid and her clothes.She said he told her to lay on the bed and then forced himself on her until she screamed and he told her to shut up.She said she later told her neighbor what happened and the following morning she took her to the hospital for medical examination.
The matter was adjourned for cross examination and continued trial.
