By Chisomo Phiri
Malawi Police at Lingadzi Police Station in Lilongwe are keeping in their custody a 24-year-old Evason Fred for allegedly dumping his disabled son into Lingadzi River over a child support wrangle.
Accrording to Lingadzi Police Station Publicist Sergeant Cassim Manda Mkombozi, the 5-year-old son, who had cerebral palsy, was dependent on his mother for care and support.
Due to family differences, the father left his wife and got married to another woman in Mtandire Township within Lilongwe.
Furious over the husband’s action, the wife abandoned the son at her mother-in-law’s place in Traditional Authority Khongoni in Lilongwe.
This did not go well with the father and he is suspected of plotting to eliminate his physically challenged son.
On May 10, 2024, the suspect went to his former wife and politely asked to take the son home on the pretext of providing child support.
On their way back home, the suspect undressed his son and threw him into Lingadzi River.
Tactfully, he allegedly abandoned the clothes near Area 47 Livingstonia CCAP Church so that it should seem as if the child had been abducted.
A week later, the suspect called his ex-wife, informing her about the death of the child, but he did not provide more information.
Later, when the child’s mother and other relatives went to Mtandire Township to collect the child’s body, the suspect bolted upon seeing them.
However, the suspect was caught by some people and was taken to Lingadzi Police Station, where he admitted to having thrown his child into Lingadzi River.
Meanwhile, Lingadzi Police are working round the clock to find the child who is feared dead.
The suspect, who hails from Matekwe village, Traditional Authority(T/A) Khongoni, in Lilongwe district will be taken to court soon to answer a case of murder which is contrary to section 209 of penal code.
