The incident occurred yesterday after the child left home early in the morning, telling his mother that he was going to school. However, the boy instead spent several hours in the neighbourhood playing Bonanza using money he had taken from his 31-year-old mother.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba said the situation escalated when the child returned home later in the morning and was questioned about the missing money.
Mr Mweemba explained that the boy’s mother allegedly assaulted him before taking a pot of boiling water from a brazier and pouring it on his back.
“When the boy returned home, he was asked where the money was. From there, the mother started beating him and in the process he fell down. The mother then got a pot of hot water which was on a brazier and poured it on the victim. Upon realising what had happened, she rushed him to Mchini Clinic,” Mr Mweemba said.
He added that due to the severity of the burns, medical personnel referred the child to Chipata Central Hospital, where he was admitted.
Mr Mweemba said the boy remains in an unstable condition and is under close medical observation.
He confirmed that the mother has been arrested and is facing charges of assault and child battering, adding that police officers apprehended her at the clinic and took her into custody.
