By REBECCA MUSHOTA? –

THREE children, aged seven, five and one-year-nine-months old have gone missing in Mushipashi Farm area in Chief Matanda’s area in Mansa.
The children went missing on Wednesday, last week between 15:00 hours and 16:30 hours.
Luapula Province Police chief Malcolm Mulenga said yesterday that on Sunday,  September 7, this year around 16:00 hours, a couple, Mr Teddy Chilambe and his wife Catherine of Matelo Village in Chief Chimese’s area in Mansa in the company of their three children Charity Kalaba, 7, a girl, Elizabeth Mwewa, 5, a girl and Justine Chilambe, a boy of one-year-nine-months old left their village for their cassava field situated in Mushipashi Farm area .
Mr Mulenga said on Wednesday, September 10, this year, while camping in the cassava field, the couple decided to go and soak the cassava tubes, after harvesting on a nearby stream, leaving the three children unattended to.
‘‘Upon return, they found that the three children had gone missing in unexplained circumstances.
Efforts by the villagers together with the parents to try and search for the children have so far proved futile,’’ he said.
The matter was then reported to Police.?Mr Mulenga said investigations had been instituted in the matter and the public would be updated.
He said Charity, who is light in complexion was last seen wearing a blue pair of trousers and a blue T shirt.
Elizabeth, who is dark in complexion, was last seen wearing a green, red and yellow striped chitenge skirt without a top while Justine who is light in complexion was last seen wearing a chitenge top marching the skirt that Elizabeth was wearing.