Arrested for chopping off baby’s private parts

A couple in Dedza has been arrested  for chopping off their newly born baby’s private parts and concealing birth.

Confirming the development in an interview on Friday, Dedza deputy police spokesperson Cassim Manda identified the  couple as 25 year old Julius Zondolani from Mtengowagwa village and his wife Chiyembekezo 33 from Mponda village; both villages are under Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere in the district.

Manda said police received a tip-off that the couple had dumped a baby boy in a toilet.

“The woman was then sent to Dedza District Hospital where it was confirmed that she had just given birth. The police then started searching for the baby from toilets around the couple’s house and found it dead without private parts and the umbilical cord,” explained Manda.

He said investigations are underway to find out what prompted the couple to commit the offence and where-abouts of the missing body parts of the baby.

The suspects will soon appear before court to answer charges of concealing birth contrary to Section 232 of Penal Code.

In a related development, 25 year old Ethel Kaziputa is in police custody in Dedza for baby dumping.

Explained Manda: “It is said the man who impregnated Kaziputa denied responsibility and when she was due, she rushed to a nearby bush, gave birth to a baby boy and buried him there.”

Manda said when some community members noticed that Kaziputa was neither pregnant nor nurturing a baby, they suspected foul play and reported her to police.

After interrogation, Kaziputa took the police to where she buried the child where it was found in a decomposed state.

Kaziputa hails from Gwazadwale village in the area of chief Kasumbu in the district.