A 47-year-old man has broken down in tears before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court after denying allegations that he sexually abused his seven-year-old daughter who is reportedly battling cancer.
The court has set June 4, 2026 as the date for judgment in the matter, in which the man is accused of defiling his child while she was admitted to the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka.
Alleged Abuse Said to Have Happened at Hospital
According to the prosecution, the alleged incidents are believed to have occurred between September 20, 2024 and March 11, 2025, during the period the accused was nursing the child while she was receiving treatment.
The court heard that the alleged abuse reportedly took place during night-time bathing sessions, where the child was allegedly heard crying.
It was also alleged that the accused would play loud music from his mobile phone during these bathing moments.
Accused Denies Bathing the Child
However, in his defence, the accused denied ever bathing the child, insisting that he only took care of her while she was hospitalised.
He told the court that the child’s elder sister was the one responsible for bathing her throughout the time she spent in hospital, which reportedly lasted seven months.
The accused questioned how such acts could have taken place in a hospital setting where medical personnel and other people were constantly present.
Challenges Photographic Evidence
The man also disputed photographic evidence presented in court, questioning its authenticity and saying he could not confirm whether the images involved his daughter.
“I cannot tell if the one in those photos is my daughter, because there was only her lower part without the head, so I cannot know,” he told the court.
Says He Took Responsibility Because Mother Had a Newborn
He further explained that he took responsibility for nursing the child because the mother had a three-week-old baby to care for, making it difficult for her to travel frequently from Southern Province to Lusaka.
Court Awaits Judgment
The case has drawn attention due to its sensitive nature, with the court expected to deliver judgment on June 4, 2026.
Source: Zambia Daily Mail