NOEL IYOMBWA writes
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl of Kabangwe area has been arrested for allegedly pouring hot cooking oil on a baby.
According to an eye witness, who opted not to be named, Purity Mainzawho is heavily pregnant followed her boyfriend, identified as Junior Nyekesa aged 19, at his place and from there they picked a fight.
She said that in the course of the argument, Purity got a pan containing hot cooking oil which Junior’s mother was using to fry fritters, and threw the oil towards her boyfriend but unfortunately the cooking oil landed on a one year eight months old baby.
The witness said that the baby who is a sibling to Purity’s boyfriend sustained burns on the face and was rushed to University Teaching Hospital where he is admitted.
And Zambia police spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed the development in a telephone interview.
“A case of assault on a child which occurred on Saturday May 2 in which a female juvenile Purity Mainza aged 17-yrs-old did have a misunderstanding with her boyfriend.
“In the process she got hot cooking oil and wanted to pour on her boyfriend and the boyfriend managed to run away and the cooking oil landed on the 1year 8 months baby whose identity we have withheld.
“An arrest has been made and accused is detained at Ngwerere Police station,” she said.
“The victim sustained burns on the face and head and currently admitted to UTH.”