Tanzanians are outraged after Desderia Mbwelwa, a 57-year-old woman was discovered to have raped an eight-year-old boy and infected him with sexually transmitted diseases.
Mbwelwa was handed 29 years in prison at a court on Friday but details of the verdict remain sketchy.
The woman was said to have found the young boy herding cattle at a village in southern district of Iringa and asked where his friends were.
She proceeded to sexually assault him under a tree after he said he was alone there.
Five witnesses including a doctor who examined the boy stood as witnesses, and confirmed he had injuries and had contracted sexual infections in the genital area.
Mbwelwa is said to have defended herself by saying she is an adult with children and grandchildren who depend on her.
Mbwelwa ‘s counsel Frank Mwela stated that he plans to appeal the judgement because his client was not tested to confirm if she indeed had sexually transmitted diseases. The boy’s representation stated he had not any previous sexual contact before.
“My client was not tested positive for those diseases, which both my client and her witness have confirmed they do not have because one of the witnesses is her husband,” he said.
