5-MONTH-OLD BABY MURDERED BY HER UNCLE IN CHOMA DISTRICT
By Patricia Mbewe
A 5-month-old baby has allegedly been murdered by her mentally challenged uncle aged between 20 and 25 years in Choma District, Southern Province.
Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo has confirmed the murder which was reported at Batoka police post yesterday by the child’s father, Lavent Kanini.
Mr. Namalongo says brief facts are that yesterday at about 15:00 hours, the child's mother put the infant to sleep near the doorway of a family house before briefly leaving to attend to household chores.
He says during her absence, the child's grandmother was alerted by a young family member that the uncle had allegedly assaulted the baby while she was asleep.
Mr. Namalongo says the child’s grandmother rushed to the scene and found the infant unresponsive and bleeding from the nose and quickly rushed her to Batoka Rural Health Centre where she was pronounced dead.
He says police officers who examined the body observed a cut to the right side of the head, an injury to the right eye, and bleeding from the nose and a stick is believed to have been used in the assault.
Mr. Namalongo says the body has since been deposited in Choma General Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
He however said no arrest has been made at this stage but a docket has been opened, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.
PHOENIX NEWS