I didn’t impregnate her, I slept with her only once last month, so I can not be responsible for her three months pregnant, 16-year-old dragged to court for damage compensation complains.
The defendant, a grade nine pupil represented by the grandmother, was sued in the Matero local court for compensation of damage by Kebby Kayombo, 72 of Kafue district on grounds that he impregnated his granddaughter aged 15.
Kayombo said his granddaughter who is in grade nine is currently three months pregnant and pointed out her school boyfriend to be responsible for the pregnancy.
“I want him to be maintaining the pregnancy until she delivers, to compensate us with k20,000 for damage and also ensure she goes back to school immediately after delivering,” said Kayombo.
And when questioned by the court, the survivor, said her boyfriend was the first person she ever slept with in her life.
“We slept together on July 28 this year and afterwards, I saw blood. I’m now three months pregnant and he is the only person I ever slept with,” she said.
But her boyfriend denied the pregnancy despite accepting that the two indeed slept together, accusing her of trying to trap him.
“I can’t be the one responsible, she has only picked me because I’m young. I slept with her last moth so how can she be three moths pregnant? I’m ready to take myself for a DNA testing once the child is born to prove that indeed I am not the father,” the boy adamantly said.
But Magistrate Harriet Mulenga had to pass a judgement on the matter while she offered counsel to both the guardians, and the juveniles.
“This is what happens when we as guardians fail in our duties of molding our children, these are young children whose only concern must be school. But again, it will not be fair for this court to charge him the k20,000 that has been ordered because where he is, he can’t even remove a K100, it is the parents that are being punished instead to pay this money.”
“This is just the same as two blind people making a wrong because they cant see what is right, both of them are young and ‘blind’. So Instead, this court will use its discretion to reduce the amount to K7,000 so that his parents will pay you. Maintenance of the pregnancy shall be done by both parties,” said Magistrate Mulenga.
The Magistrate further encouraged the expectant mother to return to school after delivering and to stop engaging in baby making acrobatics with her boyfriend.
“Take note of all the money you will spend during the pregnancy period, if DNA proves that the child is not yours, you will be refunded,” Magistrate Mulenga told the young defendant.
Picture file for illustration
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba November 1, 2024
