By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, February 28, Mana: Police in Dowa have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion that he murdered his three year old step son.

The incident happened on February 25, 2025 at Kamankodola Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Msakambewa in the district.

Dowa Police Station Public Relations Officer, Alice Sitima, has identified the suspect as Gerald Tchalesi and the deceased child as Witikala Steven.

Sitima said on the day, the child's mother, 24-year-old Ethel Kambitsani, left home around 9am to attend a funeral ceremony at a nearby village, leaving her son who was at the time in good health, under Tchalesi’s care.

"When she returned home around 5pm, Kambitsani found Tchalesi locking the house and preparing to leave but without disclosing his destination. When she entered the house, she noticed a foul odor coming from the bedroom and after checking, found her son lying unconscious under a blanket.

“Kambitsani alerted village elders, who rushed the child to Msakambewa Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead," said Sitima.

She said when Tchalesi was informed of the incident he did not return home.

The matter was reported to Dowa Police Station, who visited the scene and transported the body to Dowa District Hospital for examination.

"Postmortem revealed that the child died from hypovolemic shock due to ruptured internal organs. Currently, Tchalesi has been arrested and will soon appear in court to face a murder charge," said Sitima.