Activists demand life sentences for child rapists as Malawian teacher gets 10 years for defilement

George Makuwira convicted after defiling 15 year old learner three times — campaigners say 10 years is not enough

Child rights activists in Malawi are demanding life imprisonment for child rapists after a 27-year-old primary school teacher in Phalombe was sentenced to 10 years in jail for defiling a 15-year-old learner.

George Makuwira was convicted after pleading guilty before First Grade Magistrate Leonard Mtosa, who heard that the teacher had sexual intercourse with the learner on three occasions between January and March 2026 in a maize garden near the school campus in Malawi’s Phalombe district.

The sentence has triggered renewed debate among child rights campaigners in Malawi, with calls for tougher punishments against offenders targeting minors.

Child Rights Advocacy Centre Executive Director Memory Chisenga welcomed the conviction but argued that Malawi should introduce life sentences for defilers to deter offenders and better protect children.

“We need life imprisonment for defilers. Stiffer punishments would send a strong warning and help protect children from abuse,” she said.

Child rights campaigner Amos Chibwana also called for faster handling of defilement cases in Malawi, saying delays in the justice system often deny survivors timely justice and prolong trauma for victims and their families.

The case has once again raised concern over the safety of learners in Malawi’s schools and the abuse of trust by teachers entrusted with the welfare of children.