A nine-year-old girl of Chilulo Village in Mwanya Chiefdom, Lumezi District, Eastern Province, has drowned in Katondolo River.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba, confirmed the incident to the media, which was reported by the girl’s grandfather, 60-year-old Keston Njobvu.
The juvenile, a Grade Three pupil, had gone out to play with three friends on January 31, 2026, around 16:00 hours.
Mr Mweemba said when she failed to return home by 18:00 hours, her parents began searching and that at about 19:00 hours, one of her friends revealed that the group had gone swimming at Katondolo River, where the girl drowned.
He explained that community members joined the search and managed to retrieve her body at around 21:30 hours.
The matter was reported to Mwase Waminga Police Post.
Police inspected the body and found no physical injuries, ruling out foul play.
The body has since been handed over to relatives for burial.
