PETER SICHALI writes
AN EIGHT-MONTH-OLD baby was killed during a fight between a husband and wife of Mupila Village in Chief Chikwanda’s area in Mpika, Muchinga Province.
Provincial Commissioner of Police Joel Njase said the fight erupted after the husband refused to accompany his wife to go and clean a shelter for under-five clinic.
Mr Njase said the incident happened on Friday around 07:00 hours and was reported on Saturday at 09:30 hours.
“Cell phone call was received from Joseph Masangauko, aged 57, of Mupila Village in Chief Chikwanda of Mpika stating that there is a murder case where Brian Kangwa, aged 30, who married her daughter Benandeta Musangauko, aged 24, had killed his baby male juvenile Antony Kangwa, aged 8 months, when the couple had a fight because the husband didn’t want to accompany the wife to go and clean a shelter for under five clinic,” Mr Njase said.
He said during the fight, the baby was crawling to the father, who stepped on his head.
The baby could not baby breath well after he stepped on it and died later.
“Police visited the crime of scene and found body wrapped in a blanket. It was thoroughly inspected and found that baby was biting the tongue and a suspected fracture on the head,’” Mr Njase said.
He said the body [of the baby] was picked and deposited at Mpika District Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.
Mr Njase said police would arrest Kangwa and charge him with murder.
“I wish to advise young couples to learn to be tolerant and engage each other when differences occur,” he said.
Mr Njase advised families to prepare their children properly for marriage, especially on emotion management and reaction to issues.
“It’s unfortunate that the reason for a fight between this couple shows a high level of intolerance and now resulting in a death of an innocent child,” Mr Njase said.
