In a dimly lit courtroom in Lusaka, Martha Bwalya, a weary 63-year-old businesswoman from John Laing Compound, stood before Magistrate Amy Masoja.
Her voice trembled as she recounted the hardships she faced caring for her grandchildren, including a four-month-old baby abandoned by her daughter, Jane Chilando, in favor of consuming a potent local brew known as Kachasu.
With visible pain etched on her face, Bwalya described how Chilando, her fifth-born child, had refused to breastfeed the baby when it was just a month old.
“She would leave the child and go to drink Kachasu. I was upset and wanted her to suffer, but I have forgiven her and ask the court to do the same,” Bwalya pleaded, holding back tears.
Chilando, a 36-year-old mother of five, stood accused of threatening violence against her mother on November 11, 2024.
The prosecution alleged that she had threatened Bwalya with an iron bar, vowing to kill her.
Confronted with the charge, Chilando initially denied it but later admitted her wrongdoing after an emotional exchange in court.
“I have stopped drinking, your honor,” Chilando said, her voice subdued.
She confessed to her struggles with alcohol and her neglect of her children, adding, “I am asking for forgiveness. I will never repeat my actions again. I’ve already started praying.”
Magistrate Masoja, visibly concerned, questioned Chilando’s remorse and suitability as a caregiver.
“You are a woman with five children. Look at your mother; she is the one suffering. Do you think she can continue taking care of the children after all this?”
The court emphasized the need for intervention, suggesting that social welfare should take charge of the children while Chilando undergoes counseling and rehabilitation.
“You’ve admitted the charge, but this goes beyond punishment. You need help,” the magistrate said firmly.
The hearing ended with an adjournment to January 10, 2025, to allow for reconciliation efforts and the involvement of social welfare.
The magistrate urged both mother and daughter to seek resolution for the sake of the children.
