A 25-year-old man in Lumezi District, Eastern Province, has allegedly killed his eight-month-old daughter before taking his own life following a domestic dispute with his wife.
The incident happened on, Sunday September 6, 2026, when the bodies of both father and daughter were discovered hanging from a tree in a bush near Wilson Village, Chief Zumwanda’s area.
According to Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba, the issue began on September 3 when Isaac Phiri quarreled with his 20-year-old wife, Rosemary Nyirongo over his inability to provide basic necessities, leaving her and their baby starving.
Following the dispute, Isaac took their daughter and left home, never to return.
When he failed to come back, his worried wife alerted relatives who launched a search.
However, the matter was not reported to police immediately and family members continued searching on their own.
Three days later, a villager cutting logs in the bush, stumbled upon two bodies hanging from a tree.
Upon closer inspection, villagers identified the deceased as Isaac Phiri and his infant daughter.
Police officers from Lumezi Police Post rushed to the scene and found both bodies hanging.
Physical inspection revealed no visible injuries except protruding tongues and stretched necks, consistent with hanging.
The bodies were already decomposing.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, both bodies were buried immediately with graves marked for potential exhumation should postmortem examination be required.
An inquiry file has been opened.
By Samuel Khwawe
