JUDGMENT DAY FOR SUSPECTED INCESTOUS FATHER LOOMS
A 45-year-old man of Tsau village last week sighed with relief, albeit temporarily, when Maun Magistrates’ Court postponed his judgment in an incest case to September 26th, 2022.
Although the man’s trial was completed almost two months ago, the court informed the alleged child molester, whose name cannot be mentioned to protect the child, that his judgment was not yet ready.
Meanwhile, the man landed in court when the school’s health and safety officer noticed a ‘foul smell’ emanating from the private parts of the daughter of the alleged molester.
Upon questioning, she reportedly revealed that her father had been molesting her for some time and that her brother, too, had defiled her for the first time that very morning.
The victim is currently accommodated at a shelter in Francistown as her mother refused to kick the father out of the marital home and was still living with him.
Her brother, who has been charged separately since he is a minor, has been sent to boarding school.
However, the man has maintained his innocence throughout the case and further accused the police of beating the guilty confession out of him.
“I confessed to the crime because they were assaulting me. I could see that they wanted to kill me. That is why I ended up telling them that I did it,” maintained the suspect, who cannot be named to protect his daughter’s identity.
Meanwhile, Head of Counselling Department at Women Against Rape, Baleseng James, revealed that during lockdown, they experienced a surge in incest cases, having to house over 16 minors who fell pregnant at the hands of their close relatives and, shockingly, their fathers.
According to James, most cases emanate from the Okavango area.
“Our preliminary research findings have indicated that most of these men engage in sexual activities with their children for ritual purposes as they believe that it will somehow make them rich and powerful,” explained Baleseng, adding that the mothers are often silent as they also hope that their livelihood will be improved by the unholy act.
Currently on bail, the man can only hope that the September judgment will be in his favour.
“Our preliminary research findings have indicated that most of these men engage in sexual activities with their children for ritual purposes as they believe that it will somehow make them rich and powerful”