TWO babies from the same family aged one and three have drowned in a well in Kitwe’s Chipata Township.
Joyce Kafula Mushota aged one-year-eight months and Mwila Salanga, three, both of 08/8 Chipata Township, fell into the well at their home, while playing.
Copperbelt Police Chief Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident that happened on Tuesday at around 15:00 hours.
“The babies were left alone at the house by their parents who went out to visit within the neighbourhood,” she said.
She said members of the public reported the case to the police who went to the scene and retrieved the two bodies.
Ms Kasosa said the bodies of the two were laying in Kitwe Central hospital mortuary waiting for a postmortem.
She appealed to members of the public to always ensure that children were under the care of adults all the time.
Ms Kasosa stressed that children, if left alone, were capable of doing anything that might lead to death.
Meanwhile, 12 vehicles were reduced to shells after the garage they were parked in caught fire in Kitwe.
Ms Kasosa confirmed the incident that happened yesterday at around 02:30 hours at Jose Muku Garage.
Ms Kasosa said it was believed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in one of the vehicles.
She said 10 of the 12 vehicles that were burnt were runners and that the value of the damages had not yet been calculated.
There is need to restructure the fire brigade dept in councils to make them proactive on matters concerning public safety.e.g certification and inspection of digging of wells/pit latrine so that they are properly done/securely.
Actually the drowned babies are my relatives, l was supposed to travel to Kitwe to attend the burial but can not make it. Bashi Kalobwe, am with you in prayers
While offering my sincere condolences for the loss of two INNOCENT SOULS, I condemn the attitude of many parents today who care less about the affairs of children, especially in over populated townships, children play everywhere including busy roads, you find women seating on the road sides gossiping about that neighbour and not asking themselves about where their young children are.
If you are not ready to be a parent, why make babies? If animals and birds can protect their little ones, are we saying we are less intelligent than them? It is said everyone can be a father and mother but not everyone is a parent. Yes a Parent cares about the upbringing of the child while anyone can manufacture a child and throw it on the streets. Please CHANGE and CHANGE the attitude for the sake of the…
Correction: condolences on the loss / attitude for the sake of the future generations.
please our mothers take care of our children very sad to read such things.
Too bad we have lost 2 potential PF votes MTSRIP on fire atleast not all vehicles were runners so not a big loss.
2014 water wells in cities? Provide piped water whether the compound is legal or illegal. There those communal taps which can be put up every 200m or so. They can save lives and not only from diseases caused by people drinking contaminated well water but also safety from falling into them. Some of these wells are just 3 meters from pit latrines.
We have water kiosks in Chipata Compound. It is a shame that some people do not want to use them or they use them only for drinking water but use their well for other water uses! This is a sad development indeed…
Sad readin.My heart felt condolences to the bereaved family.Please parents,be more responsible with your children.MTSRIP.