Residents of Chasefu District have been left shocked following a tragic discovery that led to the arrest of a 40-year-old woman suspected of burying her newborn baby in a nearby bush. The disturbing incident came to light after dogs reportedly uncovered the shallow grave where the infant had been hidden.
The suspect, identified as Patricia Nyambose of Eukeni Village under Chief Phikamalaza’s area, is currently being held at Lundazi Police Station. Authorities say she is being investigated in connection with a suspected case of infanticide.
According to preliminary police reports, Nyambose allegedly gave birth to a baby boy around 04:00 hours on Saturday. Instead of informing family members or seeking assistance, she is believed to have quietly taken the newborn into a nearby bush where she buried the infant shortly after delivery.
Suspicion grew in the community when villagers noticed that the baby had not been seen since the reported birth. When asked about the child’s whereabouts, Nyambose reportedly failed to provide clear answers, raising concerns among residents.
The grim discovery was made on Monday evening when two women from the village, Mable Msimuko and Lydia Njobvu, went into the bush to gather firewood. While there, they noticed several dogs gathered at one spot and detected a strong, unpleasant smell coming from the same area. When they moved closer to investigate, they found a shallow pit containing the body of a baby wrapped in a chitenge cloth with a sack placed on top.
The matter was quickly reported to village headman Save Nyasulu, who alerted the police. Officers arrived at the scene and retrieved the infant’s body, which had already begun to decompose. Robertson Mweemba later confirmed the incident, stating that Nyambose admitted to being the child’s mother during questioning. Due to the condition of the body, authorities reburied the infant while marking the site for possible exhumation if a postmortem becomes necessary. Investigations into the case are ongoing.
