By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay July 11, Mana: District Social Welfare Officer for Nkhata Bay, McSenscie Chagomerana has said their office has managed to rescue a two-year old girl who went missing in Ntcheu on June 11, 2024

He said Police were tipped by Sophie Mohammed a resident of the district who was left to take care of the child by a the mentally challenged woman who claimed the child was hers.

"We received a report about the child on June 18, 2024 from Nkhata Bay Police who were approached by Mohammed. Upon thorough investigation together with the Police, it was established that the woman who claimed to be mother to the child was once admitted at Zomba Mental Hospital, had no record of having a child and is a sex worker," Chagomerana said.

He said the office took custody of the child and was referred to Mzuzu Social Welfare Office as the search for her parents intensified.

The Officer disclosed that on July 5, 2024, they were contacted by Ntcheu Police who inquired about a missing child reported by some parents and they later confirmed she was the one.

Mohammed, the woman who was left with the child by the stranger, said the condition she saw the child in forced her to accept the responsibility of looking after her as the woman openly claimed she could not manage to provide good care.

"I reported the matter to police having noted some irregularities and inconsistent narration of events by the woman. I also thought it wise for the police to know in case anything had happened to the child while under my watch," Mohammed said.

A 31 year-old, Never Kambalame from Tsangano in Ntcheu District who is father to the child expressed relief upon being reunited with his daughter.

"Since our child went missing, the family had been traumatized leading to sleepless nights and loss of appetite. From now on, I will keep a close watch on my children to avoid such from happening again," he said.

According to Kambalame, the baby went missing on a market day as she was trying to follow her siblings who did not notice her coming leaving her mother sleeping in the house.

Nkhata Bay Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sergeant Kondwani James hailed coordination among all stakeholders that led to the rescue of the child.