Woman allegedly kills stepdaughter, burns body and buries remains

Police in Central Province in Zambia have reportedly arrested a 36-year-old woman in Chisamba in connection with the murder of her stepdaughter.

The woman allegedly stacked the body of her eight-year-old stepdaughter in a sack, burnt it and buried it in a rubbish pit just outside her house in December last year, the Lusaka Times has reported.

She then allegedly went on to plant sweet potatoes on the spot where she buried the girl.

The woman was initially arrested for allegedly pouring hot water on her 35-year-old husband while sleeping after asking about his daughter. At the time, she reportedly told him she had taken the girl to a boarding school in the Mwachisompola area until she could not make excuses anymore and decided to burn him.

Following her arrest, she reportedly led the police to a spot where she had buried her stepdaughter, police spokesperson Esther Katongo told the publication.

She allegedly killed her stepdaughter by hitting her head against the wall.

The remains have reportedly been handed over to the deceased’s relatives for a proper burial.

The woman is reportedly in police custody charged with murder and will get another charge after police establish the gravity of injuries suffered by the husband.