Two children have died after their mother, who is believed to be mentally ill, allegedly threw them into a stream in Chembe District of Luapula Province.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at Makubi Stream near Jelemani Village in Chief Kasoma Lwela’s area.
According to Luapula Province Police Commissioner Stephen Palaata, the victims, a two-year-old boy and his 10-month-old sister, were allegedly thrown into the stream by their 36-year-old mother.
Mr. Palaata said Chembe Police Station received a report of the incident at about 12:35 hours from a relative of the suspect, who informed officers that the woman had allegedly thrown her two children into the stream.
He said police officers, accompanied by personnel from the Chembe Town Council Fire Brigade, rushed to the scene and found that the bodies had already been retrieved from the stream by family members.
Mr. Palaata said a physical examination of the bodies revealed no visible injuries, although both children appeared to have drowned.
He said the suspect is reported to have a history of mental illness, which relatives believe occurs periodically.
Mr. Palaata said suspicion was raised when a family member noticed the woman moving around the village without her children, whom she was usually seen carrying.
When asked about their whereabouts, she allegedly told the relative that she had thrown them into the stream.
The relative immediately rushed to the water body and found the two children already dead.
Mr. Palaata said family members believe the woman may have been experiencing a mental episode at the time of the incident.
The bodies have since been taken to Chembe Mini Hospital Mortuary, where they are awaiting post-mortem examinations.
Police have apprehended the suspect, who is expected to be formally charged with two counts of murder and will appear in court soon, Mr. Palaata said.
