Ministry of gender spokesperson, Pauline Kaude said on Tuesday that they are working on filing the appeal for the two girls to get proper justice; whose crime was stealing three maize cobs in the woman's field.

The sentence which was meted out two weeks ago, compensated the girls aged 12 and 14, with K100, 000 each while K200, 000 went to government.

However, gender activist, Jessie Ching'oma said Damiano deserved a deterrent punishment, arguing "the children have gone through psychological and mental torture that will live forever and cannot be compensated with monetary fines".

Similarly, child rights activist, Fred Nyondo suggested a jail term to send shock-waves to other like-minded child abusers, considering that the country continues recording such cases.

"It's not a stiffer punishment that it was supposed to be because the incident that happened was catastrophic. It affects children and we need to put in harder sentences so that we could deter other the would-be-offenders", he suggested.

Damiano who comes from Mathias Village, Traditional Authority Mlolo, caused grievous harm contrary to Section 235 of the Penal Code, according to Thyolo Police state prosecutor on the matter, Sub-Inspector Felix Senzani.

Last week, another woman was also arrested in Machinga for allegedly discarding hands of her son on suspicion that he stole relish.