Woman arrested over deaths of 2 stepchildren
By Ludia Ngwadzai
POLICE in Lusaka have arrested a 26-year-old woman after she killed two stepchildren and dumped them into the Ngwerere River in Meanwood, Kwamwena area.
Mary Kachilika was arrested after she threw the two children aged six and two years old, into the Ngwerere River on Wednesday around 14 hours.
Police in Lusaka have confirmed the arrest and detention of Kachilika.
“[Our] Chelstone Police Station has detained Mary Kachilika, aged 26, of Meanwood Kwamwena Phase 4, for the alleged murder of two children, aged six years and two years respectively,” deputy police spokesperson Chipo Kaitisha said in a statement seen by The Mast yesterday.
Kaitisha said the arrest followed a report received on February 25, 2026, at around 14:30 hours by Kwamwena Police Post from Titus Kamanga, aged 29, of Meanwood, Kwamwena Phase 5 alleging that his two children were murdered by his second wife.
“Kamanga lodged a report with the police against his second wife, Kachilika, who allegedly threw his two children from his first wife, Fanny Kanyinji, aged 26, into the Ngwerere River.
“The incident is alleged to have occurred around 12:00 hours near Ngwerere River in Meanwood Phase 5,” she said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the complainant was in a polygamous marriage, having married his second wife in January last year.
The investigation revealed that his second wife had experienced disputes arising from jealousy, as one wife had children while the other did not.
Kaitisha explained that on the material day of the incident, the husband had reportedly gone to work, while the first wife was outside doing house chores.
“The children were inside the house eating. The mother later heard the children crying and, upon checking, discovered they were missing. She followed the direction of the cries toward Ngwerere River.
At the river, she found Mary Kachilika being pursued by a local fisherman aged 28, who was fishing nearby. He is reported to have witnessed the accused allegedly throwing the children into the river and apprehended her,” she said.
She said police officers, together with the Fire Brigade, visited the scene.
“However, the bodies of the two children have not yet been recovered, and search operations are ongoing. Investigations into the matter continue, and the suspect remains in police custody,” said Kaitisha.
