LUSAKA VENDOR LOSES BABY AT BAR

Sat, 09 Sep 2017 12:19:30 +0000

By Chikumbi Katebe

A FIVE-MONTH-OLD baby girl has been stolen by a ‘good samaritan’ at a bar as the mother served potato chips to customers.

Police acting spokesperson Danny Mwale in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday identified the mother as Ms Lydia Mutale, a vendor at Best End Bar in Kanyama Compound on Superior Road.  Ms Mutale gave temporal custody of the baby to a woman that offered to hold the baby as she conducted her business.

“The incident occurred on 7th September 2017 around 17:00 hours. It is alleged that the unidentified woman who was drinking beer at the bar approached the mother of the baby under the pretext of helping her carry the child but later disappeared,” Mr Mwale said.

The baby has not been seen since. Meanwhile, a couple of Kawama compound in Kabwe has been arrested for allegedly causing the death of their four-month-old baby in unexplained circumstances.

Mr Mwale said the baby, identified as Donald Chileshe, was discovered dead on the morning of 7th September 2017 while sleeping in between his mother, 25-year-old Nampi Chileshe and her husband, Mathews Chileshe (25) who shared a single mattress.

“Police officers visited the scene and found a single mattress where the deceased together with his parents slept and the body had no physical injuries.

“Investigations have since been instituted in the matter,” Mr Mwale said. And another two-week-old baby has been burnt to ashes after the mother left a candle burning as she went to the market.

The baby, identified as Eneles Kasala was burnt beyond recognition after a mosquito net she was sleeping in caught fire burning the mattress on which she slept.

Mr Mwale said the mother, Anna Mwale (18) left a candle burning around 19:00 hours when she went to the market as her baby slept.