By White Luhanga
A 2-year-and-1-month-old girl has died after a grass-thatched kitchen caught fire in Chief Mafuta’s Chiefdom in Chipangali District of Eastern Province.
Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident, stating it occurred yesterday, October 7, 2025, around 15:40 hours at Gabriel’s Farm near Kamudaya Village.
Mr. Mweemba says Beatrice Mwale, the deceased, was in the grass kitchen playing with her sisters while their mother, Atalya Zulu, 25, was resting outside, and their father, Alick Mwale, 30, was sleeping inside the house.
He says the mother was later alerted by the children’s screams and upon rushing to the kitchen, she found that it was already engulfed in flames.
Mr. Mweemba says efforts to rescue the child proved futile as the fire had spread rapidly, completely burning down the kitchen.
He says police officers visited the scene and found the remains of the child lying in the burnt structure, and the body was burnt beyond recognition.
Mr Mweemba says the cause of the fire is not yet known, and an inquiry has been opened and investigations instituted.
NB: Picture for illustration
©️Zambia Reports | October 8th, 2025.