By HOPE BWALYA and MILDRED KATONGO
A WOMAN and her child have been found dead on the banks of the Katete River in Eastern Province soon after she and her husband lost employment because of alleged constant fights between them.
According to police, the woman was found with multiple head injuries, while the child had a broken neck.
The bodies were found by a person who was herding cattle along the river on Monday morning.
It was believed that the deceased woman identified as Abigail Mbewe aged between 25 to 30, of Kamulaza area and her son believed to be three years old, were last seen on Sunday morning with her husband only identified as Mr Chomba.
The family was coming from Chilingondi area, where they were carrying out piece work for three weeks at a farm belonging to a Mr Masaiti, an employee of a South African agro business company.
It was also believed that the couple was chased from Mr Masaiti’s farm on Sunday due to constant fights between them.
Eastern Province Deputy Commissioner Sharon Zulu confirmed the incident in Katete yesterday.
“The story is true, we are still investigating the matter,” Ms Zulu said.
Their bodies were at St Francis Mission Hospital Mortuary.
Police are searching for the husband of the deceased to help them with the investigations.
Meanwhile a 12-year-old girl of Siavonga has been killed by a crocodile after she went to draw water from the Zambezi River.
Siavonga District Commissioner Lovemore Kanyama said Enala Sikoongo, a grade four pupil at Bakasa Primary school went to fetch water on Tuesday when she met her fate.
Mr Kanyama said the body of the deceased was retrieved and buried by the relatives.
He said both the marine and national parks and wildlife officers had been directed to hunt for crocodiles that have continued to kill people in the area.
“We have an incident which happened on Tuesday. A girl went to fetch water from Zambezi River and was attacked by a crocodile. The girl is aged 12 and a grade four pupils at Bakasa Primary School,” he said.
Mr Kanyama also advised parents to stop their children from fetching water and swimming in the crocodile infested River.