CHIPATA - A 16-year-old mother from Chipata has been reunited with her baby after police tracked down a woman accused of stealing the infant and fleeing nearly 600 kilometres to Chongwe.
The baby boy had been missing for four days after disappearing from Kadiba Village in Chief Chinyaku's area, leaving his mother, Mercy Mwanza, uncertain if she would ever see her child again.
According to Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba, police detectives traced the suspect to Chongwe, where Sylvia Sarah Mwewa, 26, was arrested yesterday at around 15:00 hours.
"The baby was successfully retrieved and has since been reunited with his mother," Mr. Mweemba said.
The child theft case was initially reported to Chipata Central Police Station on July 30, after Mable Daka, 50, reported on behalf of her neighbour, Mercy Mwanza, that her baby had allegedly been taken by the suspect.
Following several days of investigations, police located both the suspect and the child in Lusaka Province.
The suspect is currently detained at Chongwe Police Station as arrangements are being made to transfer her to Chipata, where she is expected to face charges related to child theft.
Meanwhile, the rescued infant has safely returned to his relieved mother as police continue with investigations.
Source: Kalemba | By: George Musonda