Village headman in Malawi arrested for indecent assault

Police in Dowa District have arrested Village Headman M’bwatamila on suspicion that he indecently assaulted a 10-year-old girl.

The 71-year-old traditional leader, whose real name is Chisoni Basiketi is alleged to have committed the offense last Friday.

“According to the victim’s grandmother, on the day of the incident the girl and her friends went to the dambo to fetch some vegetables,” explains Dowa Police spokesperson Alice Sitima.

Later that evening, they were called to the suspect’s house where the victim was forced to remove her underwear.

“In the process, the chief started touching her private parts while applying black stuff on them,” Sitima adds.

When the issue came to light, the girl was taken to Dowa District Hospital where she was examined and found with an unknown black substance in and around her private parts.

Chisoni Basiketi has since admitted to committing the offense and will appear in court to answer the charge.