2 women detained for killing baby

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

 
By ALEX NJOVU
 
POLICE in Kitwe have detained an elderly woman and her daughter for allegedly killing a baby and burying it in their backyard.
The two women of Kitwe’s Kapoto township are alleged to have strangled the toddler because the family is financially incapable of raising it.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday her office is yet to receive a full report on the incident.
But a police source in Kitwe said the incident happened last Friday.
The source said alert members of the public reported the matter to the law enforcement officers after discovering that two women had buried the baby in their backyard.
“When the child was born, as usual babies make a lot of noise and neighbours were able to hear the cries of the baby. They even congratulated the family on the newly-born baby. But they were shocked to learn that after some days, there was no sign of the baby at home and they decided to investigate.
“That is how they discovered the grave of the toddler behind the main house,” the source said.
He said police immediately arrested the two women after the alleged murder was reported to them.
“The woman confessed that she connived with her daughter to eliminate the baby because the family did not have the means of bringing it up,” the police source said.
He said the two will appear in court soon.