Fatshimetrie, August 21, 2024 – A final verdict was pronounced today at the Kinshasa-Kalamu High Court, plunging the courtroom into a meaningful silence. The defendant Rodrigues Zola Kanda was sentenced to 20 years of principal penal servitude for committing a heinous act: the rape of a 7-year-old minor.
Justice was relentless, applying the legal provisions for child protection with rigor and severity. The president of the court, Rocky Mutamba, clearly and firmly explained the reasons for this heavy sentence, including not only a sentence of penal servitude, but also substantial fines and damages to be paid to the victim’s family.
The testimony of the doctor from the Ngiri-Ngiri General Reference Hospital shed chilling light on the devastating consequences of the rape on the young victim. Her unconscious state caused by a toxic product highlighted the seriousness of the assault she suffered.
The presence of provincial and national deputies as well as local judicial authorities highlighted the importance of this trial and the general indignation at such a cruel crime. The mayor of Bandalungwa commune, Alphonse Ndofula, expressed his dismay and stressed the importance of this court decision to deter other offenders.
This verdict, handed down after the despicable act committed in the Lubudi district, is a strong signal to those who dare to attack the vulnerability of children. It reminds us that society will not tolerate such acts and that justice will punish the guilty parties firmly.
This conviction for rape of a minor is a brutal reminder of the tragic reality of certain criminal behaviors, but also a message of hope for the protection of the most vulnerable. May this court decision serve as a moral beacon for a society that is more just and kind to its children.