In a recent court hearing at the Lusaka Magistrates Court, a Zambia Army military police officer, Steven Chewe, detailed how he played a crucial role in locating an abused child and leading to the arrest of the stepmother responsible for the alleged assault.
The four-year-old boy, purportedly abused by his stepmother, was found locked up in the house while his step-siblings were outside, according to Chewe’s testimony. The soldier revealed that he had been tasked by his commanding officer, Captain Bulaya, on August 4, 2023, to locate the child within the Apollo military camp. The child’s plight had come to light through a video interview with his teacher, depicting the young boy covered in numerous whip marks, allegedly inflicted by his “mommy.”
Upon reaching the military camp, Chewe and his colleague, Christopher Bwalya, who happened to be the stepmother’s neighbor, discovered the child and the accused stepmother, Longwe Ngosa. The husband, Staff Sergeant Justin Bwalya, was reportedly not at home at the time.
Chewe described how they observed the boy with a bandaged finger, consistent with what was seen in the video. When questioned about the child’s absence from outdoor play, Ngosa initially claimed the boy was unwell. However, when confronted about the bandaged finger, she became apologetic, expressing regret for her actions.
The soldier reported the incident to Macopolo police, leading to Ngosa’s subsequent arrest. Ngosa, charged with one count of assaulting a child, contested Chewe’s claim that she apologized for her actions.
The trial is set to continue on January 24, shedding light on the details surrounding the alleged abuse and the legal consequences for the accused stepmother.
