State prosecutors, Inspector Amos Mwase and Sub Inspector Skeva Munyapa told the court that on July 3, 2021 the convict went to Traditional Authority Katuli where he disguised himself as an employee of one of the organizations working in the area called Youth Net and Counseling.

They said Chimwaza lied to Group Village Head Mpita that he was sent by the organization under ‘Tingathe Project’ to enroll young mothers who dropped out of school to access capital for businesses.

But it is said that after mobilizing the young mothers, he picked two women who happened to be the victims and lied that he was taking them for training in Salima.

Mangochi Police Spokesperson, Amina epani Daudi said that “surprisingly, upon arrival at Mangochi Boma, he announced to the victims that the organization has rescheduled the training to a later date in August 2021, and the victims were taken to a lodge where he raped and later on dumped them,” said Tepani Daudi.

She said after hiding for three weeks, the accused went back to the area at Mpita Primary School with the same trick, but a head teacher was suspicious and informed a Child Protection Officer who mobilized community members and apprehended Chimwaza and immediately handed him over to Ngapani Police Unit.

Appearing in court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the two charges leveled against him prompting the state to parade four witnesses who testified against him.

In mitigation, Chimwaza asked the court not to send him to jail since he wanted to write again form four examinations and is also ashamed of what happened.

But prosecutors quashed his pleas while justifying that the accused took advantage of the vulnerability of the victims and his actions could also dent the image of Yoneco hence the need for a stiff and custodial sentence.

When passing judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe sentenced him to 21 years trafficking in persons, 21 years for the first count of rape and 21 years imprisonment with hard labour for another count of rape.

However, Michongwe said rape sentences will run concurrently while the sentences will run consecutively, which means will be in jail for 42 years only.

Willard Chimwaza hails from Kadango Village Traditional Authority Namabvi in Mangochi.