Infant Dies in Solwezi House Fire, Mother Detained

A six-month-old baby has died after a house was gutted by fire in Solwezi, while his two older siblings managed to escape.

Zambia Police say the incident happened in Kyawama Compound between the night of September 7 and the early hours of September 8, 2026.

According to preliminary investigations, the children’s 30-year-old mother allegedly left the house at around 22:00, leaving her three children, aged 13, seven and six months, without adult supervision.

Police say a fire later broke out in a bedroom and spread through the house. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

The two older children managed to escape, but six-month-old Mapesho Chikumba could not be rescued. He was later found on a bed with severe burn injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been taken to Solwezi General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Police say the children’s mother has been detained to facilitate investigations, while an inquiry file has been opened.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Kalumbila District, police have launched a search for a man they want to question following the suspected murder of a 43-year-old woman.

Nsoche Zulu was found dead in the bathroom of her home in Kalumbila Housing on September 7 after she failed to report for work and could not be reached by telephone.

Police say she was found lying face down with deep cuts on her back, injuries to her face and burn marks on her body.

According to preliminary investigations, a male acquaintance identified by police as Andrew Sinyenga had travelled from Lusaka to visit her and was reportedly last seen with her on September 6.

Police have stressed that investigations are ongoing and say Sinyenga has not yet been located. They are appealing to anyone with information that could help locate him to contact the nearest police