By Naomi Langisi

Lilongwe, July 9, Mana: Lilongwe in Lilongwe, are keeping in custody a 32-year-old man for allegedly throwing his two biological children into a 30-meter deep well.

The children are a girl, 8, and a boy, 4, with intention of killing them, but miraculously survived a three-day stay, over disagreements with his wife, at Matapa Village in Likuni location in the district on July 6, 2024.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Hastings Chigalu Monday said the suspect has been identified as Aubrey Madzinkusamba.

“On July 4, 2024 the suspect quarreled with his wife over family matters, and agreed to divorce each other. Then, fearing that after the divorce the wife will go away with the kids, the suspect planned to kill them so that neither the wife, nor him, benefit possession of the children,” he explained.

The PRO added that, “Without his wife knowing, same day, Madzinkusamba took the kids, and threw them into an unused 30-metre deep well, near Nkhalango Clinic within Likuni area, for the children to die.”

However, the sudden missing of the children brought suspicion to the mother.

Each time she asked for the whereabouts of the children, the suspect kept on saying that kids were safe somewhere.

So, after failing to trace the kids at any of their relations and friends' homes for three days, the wife decided to report the matter to Chinsapo Police Unit, where detectives detained, and grilled the man.

After hours of denying knowledge, he later revealed that he killed the children by throwing them into a well, so that none of them should have custody of the kids after divorce.

Immediately, the law enforcers, led by the suspect, rushed to the scene where they found the kids still holding on to their breath, with their heads just above the waters.

Police, jointly with members of the community, used a bucket that was tied to ropes, to hook the kids to safety, one by one. Immediately, they were rushed to Bwaila District Hospital for medical attention, and later referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital, where they are currently admitted.

Madzinkusamba who hails from Kasiya Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Khongoni in Lilongwe and will appear in court soon to answer a case of attempted murder.