Police in Sinda have arrested a 25 year old man who is alleged to have killed his one year three months old step son.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba, has confirmed the development to ZANIS in Chipata in an interview.

Mr Mweemba said the murder incident was reported on Sunday by Mwezi Banda, 21, mother to the now late toddler, who explained that the couple had been in the field with the child when Roger Phiri, her husband, beat her son leading to his death.

The Eastern Province Commanding Officer said brief facts of the case are that Roger Phiri, of Chikuleni village in Chief Kathumba’s area used a stick to beat a one year old child.

“I wish to report on the above subject matter which was reported on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 at 20:00 hours. The incident happened around 10:30 hours at Kalabula village in Chief Kathumba’s chiefdom in Sinda District,” he said.

Mr Mweemba said Phiri while at the field with his wife beat up a one year and three months old child with a fresh stick when the child had started crying.

“The child started crying, his step father then lifted him with one hand and started beating him using a fresh stick with the other hand. The child was not feeling too well.

“Unfortunately, the boy died. My officers visited the scene of crime and confirmed the report,” he said.

Mr Mweemba said the Zambia Police officers, while at the crime scene, inspected the body of the child and found that it had no physical injuries.

He said the body has since been deposited at St. Francis Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem.