A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl has been murdered in Chasefu District, Eastern Province, allegedly by her father, who has accused the devil of eliminating her.
Maiko Kumwenda allegedly strangled his daughter to death while his wife was in hospital giving birth.
Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba said the incident happened between Sunday and yesterday, at unknown time, in Manyala village in Senior Chief Magodi’s area.
Mr Mweemba said on Saturday the suspect and his daughter had gone to the hospital to visit his wife.
“Whilst there, the mother insisted that her daughter remain in her custody but her husband refused and decided to go back to the village with her.
“Then today (yesterday) around 05:00 hours, Simeda Kumwenda, 27, who happens to be the sister of Makaiko Kumwenda (suspect) went to check on the child at her brother’s house, where she found him praying at the door,” he said.
Mr Mweemba said the suspect became violent after his sister greeted him upon arrival at the house.
He allegedly told his sister that had she arrived at the house earlier, the devil was not going to murder his child.
“It is for this reason the sister became suspicious and forced herself inside the house, where she found the lifeless body in the bedroom with bruises on the neck with blood coming out from the nose, mouth and ears.
“She then took the body outside and alerted members of the public,” Mr Mweemba said.
The matter was later reported to the police, after which officers visited the crime scene and noted that the girl had bruises around the neck, which indicated signs of being strangled.
He said the body was deposited at Lundazi District Hospital awaiting post-mortem examination results to ascertain the cause of death while the suspect is in police custody.