A 1-year-old boy has died after drowning into Nkhulukulu stream in Mphatila Village of Mafinga District in Muchinga Province.

Muchinga Province Commanding Officer Dennis Moola has confirmed the incident in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today and identified the deceased child as Uchizi Vwalika of Mphatila Village.

Mr Moola said the incident happened on Wednesday January 8, 2025 between 15:00 to 16:00 hours.

He said Selina Zgambo 27, the mother to the toddler lives in Malawi but after a marital dispute she came back to stay with her parents in Mafinga. 

Mr Moola said on the fateful day around 14.30 hours, the mother of the deceased went to the farm with her child across Nkhulukulu stream.

While at the field, police say the mother left the child sleeping with other children at a nearby house belonging to Simon Muwowo. 

“Upon the child waking up and thinking his mother had gone home leaving him behind, he sneaked out and started following his mother back home, unfortunately slipped off on the bridge and fell into the water and died from there,” Mr Moola said.

Mr Moola explained that after the mother went back where she left her child she did not find him and this prompted her and Mr Muwowo the owner of the house to start searching following the baby’ footprints till they were led to the scene.

The Commanding Officer added that John Chabinga 35 of the same abode reported the drowning incident at Muyombe police post that Uchizi drowned into Nkhulukulu stream in Mphatila village. 

Mr Moola revealed that acting on the report officers visited the scene and managed to retrieve the body of the child from the stream.

He said physical inspection was conducted on the body and foam was noted on the mouth and nose, and sand on the body. 

Mr Moola has advised the family to proceed with burial and mark the grave for possible exhumation. 

The Commanding Officer said police suspect foul play, hence, an inquiry file has since been opened.