March 2007
Raped Pregnant Woman Charged with Aggravated Robbery
By Perpetual Sichikwenkwe
A 23 year old pregnant woman detained at Kamfinsa Prisons in Kitwe has narrated how police officers allegedly arrested her and charged her with aggravated robbery after she went to get a medical form at a police station so that she could seek medication after she was raped by thugs.
Dorris Mwaba alleged that she met her fate after having a dispute with her husband and she decided to leave the matrimonial home around 21.30 hours to her mother's house.
Mwaba who was residing at D24 Mulenga compound complained to Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Kitwe paralegal Namwiinga Moyo that on November 17, 2006 she had a dispute with her husband Mwaba Mwaba and left the matrimonial home at night.
She alleged that as she was walking even Mulenga compound, she met three men who drugged her to a near by bush where one of them successfully raped her. When the other two were trying to rape her, a passerby saved her when he heard her scream from the bush. Mwaba said she was taken back to her husband's house by the person who rescued her. The following day, Mwaba went to Mulenga clinic to seek medication since she was experiencing pains because she was also beaten by the thugs. When she explained what happened to her to the nurse, the nurse advised to first get a medical form from the police.
Mwaba alleged that while at the enquiries at Wusakile Police station waiting to be attended to, an officer she did not know approached her and told her that she was facing an assault charge as she had assaulted her assailant. Mwaba was detained for two weeks. When Mwaba appeared in Kitwe Subordinate was surprised to hear that her charge had allegedly been changed to that of aggravated robbery.
Mwaba further said that she was alleged to have attached his assailant and got K120, 000 from him. Mwaba alleges that she has seen her assailant twice although she does not know his name.
Mwaba who is due this month has since been given bail but she can not leave the prison because she has failed to provide working sureties.