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Kanengo Police in Lilongwe are keeping in custody two women for allegedly concealing the birth of a baby belonging to a 15-year-old girl.
The two are Merphery Njazi, 44, and an 18-year-old girl (name withheld), both from Kumpalare Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Phambala in Ntcheu.
According to Kanengo deputy police spokesperson Salome Zgambo Chibwana, on June 3 this year, the victim was 10-month pregnant when she went to Area 49 with her mother from Namichimba to visit her uncle.
“The mother to girl left her in Area 49 on the insistence of the girl’s aunt. The mother was reluctant to leave behind her pregnant daughter but she did. She left a health passport for the girl knowing that she would be due any time,” Chibwana said.
While still at her uncle’s house, on June 5 the young girl is said to have been given porridge with some mixed herb concoction which accelerated her delivery and gave birth to a baby boy which she never saw.
“The girl did not have the chance to hold the baby in her arms. The aunt, who helped in the delivery with another young woman, told her that Satanic spirits in black attire came and took her child.
“She was sternly advised to say anything about this,” Chibwana said.
After some nine days, the girl went back to her mother in Area 23 where she explained what had happened.
The mother reported the matter to Kanengo Police.
The two suspects are expected to be charged with a case of concealing birth contrary to Section 232 of the Penal Code.
