The skeletal remains of a 14-year-old boy, have been discovered in Mzonitola Village, Chief Nyanje, Sinda District, nearly five months after he went missing.
Jason Phiri who worked as a herdsboy, was last seen in February or March 2025 when he returned home after work but never reported for duty the following day.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba has revealed that the remains were discovered on 27th July 2025.
According to Mr. Mweemba his employer, Aliness Banda, was told by the boy’s mother, Deliya Mwale and brother, Moses Phiri, that he had gone to Mozambique and no missing person report was filed until an uncle, Charles Mwale, intervened and pressured the family to notify the police.
The remains, including a skull, hip bones, limbs and a spine fragment have been found alongside torn jeans matching what Jason was last seen wearing.
Police handed the bones to the family for burial but marked the grave for potential exhumation and further forensic analysis.
Deliya Mwale and Moses Phiri, who initially concealed Jason’s disappearance, are now in police custody.
Their delayed reporting and inconsistent accounts have raised suspicions, prompting authorities to detain them for questioning and to protect them from community backlash.
Police are investigating whether foul play was involved in Jason’s death and no charges have been filed yet, but the investigation remains ongoing.
(Picture for illustrative purposes )
By Samuel Khwawe
