Shot girl’s family seeks K120m compensation

The family of nine-year old Trizah Vinkhumbo, who was shot by Rumphi Police Station officer George Kaleso last November, has written government, demanding K120 million  as compensation and to meet the girl’s medical treatment abroad.

Through lawyer Christon Ghambi hired by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), the family has also demanded criminal proceedings against Kaleso for alleged negligence.

The demand letter addressed to the Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale, dated April 11 2019, has also noted that Trizah was treated negligently by health workers at Rumphi District Hospital.

Ghambi argues that the act grossly violated the rights of the girl as provided under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Reads the letter in part: “We, therefore, demand the following relief: Compensation in the sum of K110 million which includes damages for pain and suffering, permanent body deformities, future medical expenses;

“We also demand damages for medical negligence in the sum of K10 million…immediate travel to South Africa…”

Ghambi has also written Kaleso to return the girl’s health passport book within two days or face court action.

But in an earlier interview, Kaleso denied taking Trizah’s health passport and argued that some civil society organisations leaders were influencing Trizah’s aunt, Chrissy Mhango to pursue the matter.

Kaphale said he was yet to receive the demand letter.

The officer told The Nation in an earlier interview that he was targeting a stray dog which was apparently biting his puppy, but the bullet ended up hitting the girl on the right thigh.