Father Arrested for Allegedly Mutilating 9-Year-Old Son in Phalombe
A 29-year-old man, identified as Gift Kanyoza, is now behind bars in Phalombe on charges of cutting off the manhood of his 9-year-old biological son in the district, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
PHALOMBE, Malawi - A 29-year-old man, identified as Gift Kanyoza, is now behind bars in Phalombe on charges of cutting off the manhood of his 9-year-old biological son in the district, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Sergeant Jimmy Kapanja, the public relations officer for Phalombe Police Station, provided details on the arrest. Detectives apprehended Kanyoza in the early hours of Sunday, June 4, 2023, following a tip-off.
According to Kapanja, the heinous act was committed on May 22, 2023.
The suspect had been separated from the victim's mother since 2018.
"On the day of the incident, Kanyoza requested his former wife's permission to take their son to Mozambique to stay with him, but she declined," Kapanja explained.
The spokesperson further revealed that Kanyoza, while waiting for the uncles to arrive, convinced the mother to allow him to take the victim to a nearby grocery store to buy him some snacks.
"Instead of going to the specified location, the suspect took the child to a stream, where he attacked and strangled him before mutilating his private parts. He then left the unconscious child in the bush," Kapanja disclosed.
The suspect is now set to appear before the court to face charges of grievous harm. Meanwhile, the victim has been referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre for medical treatment.
Gift Kanyoza hails from Mwala village in the area of Traditional Authority Nazombe in Phalombe.
This appalling incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the need for swift justice and increased awareness of child protection.