Tanzania is reeling with outrage following the revelation that a middle-aged woman has been convicted of raping an eight-year-old boy and infecting him with sexually transmitted diseases.
Desderia Mbwelwa, aged 57, received a 29-year prison sentence on Friday, although the details of the verdict remained largely undisclosed until now.
On the day of the assault, Mbwelwa encountered the victim while he was tending to cattle in a village located in the southern district of Iringa. She inquired about the whereabouts of his friends, and upon learning that they were absent, she proceeded to sexually assault him beneath a tree.
During the trial, five witnesses, including a doctor who examined the boy, testified, confirming his injuries and the presence of sexually transmitted infections resulting from contamination in the genital area.
Mbwelwa attempted to defend herself by emphasizing her status as an adult with dependent children and grandchildren. Her lawyer, Frank Mwela, announced plans to appeal the verdict, citing the lack of a conclusive test to confirm his client’s own infection with sexually transmitted diseases.
“Both my client and her witness, who happens to be her husband, have affirmed that they do not have these diseases, and my client was not tested positive for them,” Mwela stated.
