According to reports circulating from the proceedings, Chileshe admitted to having a sexual relationship with his 22-year-old stepdaughter, Idah Tembo, a revelation that left those present visibly shaken.
The courtroom, which had been orderly and quiet moments earlier, was said to have gone still as the details emerged.
In a statement attributed to him during the hearing, Chileshe allegedly told the magistrate, “Your Honor, I slept with my stepdaughter because I found her more attractive than my wife.”
The comment reportedly drew audible reactions from those in attendance, with some struggling to comprehend what they had just heard.
Prosecutors are said to have outlined that the relationship between Chileshe and Tembo began while his wife was away in Lusaka for work. What was initially described as a betrayal within a household has now escalated into a criminal case drawing widespread attention.
Tembo, who had reportedly been preparing for her wedding to a former teacher scheduled for October, is now said to be expecting a child this month. The planned wedding has since been cancelled, leaving behind what relatives describe as a deeply painful turn of events.
Court officials did not immediately comment beyond confirming that proceedings are ongoing. Outside the courtroom, reactions have been mixed—shock, anger, and disbelief dominating conversations among those who followed the hearing.