A Disturbing Case of Child Rape and Infection Sparks Outrage in Tanzania
A shocking incident has rocked Tanzania, as a 57-year-old woman named Desderia Mbwelwa has been found guilty of raping an eight-year-old boy and infecting him with sexually transmitted diseases. The incident occurred in a village in the southern district of Iringa, but the details of the case were not widely reported until now.
On a fateful day, Mbwelwa encountered the young victim while he was tending to cattle. She inquired about his friends, to which he replied that they were not present. Exploiting the situation, she proceeded to sexually assault the boy under a tree.
During the trial, five witnesses provided testimonies, including a doctor who examined the boy and confirmed both the presence of injuries and the contraction of sexual infections in the genital area.
In her defense, Mbwelwa argued that she is an adult with dependent children and grandchildren who rely on her. Her lawyer, Frank Mwela, has expressed his intention to appeal the verdict, citing the lack of testing to confirm whether his client indeed had sexually transmitted diseases.
Mwela stated, “My client was not tested positive for those diseases, which both my client and her witness have confirmed they do not have because one of the witnesses is her husband.”
The sentencing, handed down on Friday, imposes a 29-year prison term for Mbwelwa. This case has sparked widespread outrage in Tanzania, highlighting the urgent need for justice and protection for vulnerable children.
