A WOMAN in Lusaka’s John Laing Compound has stood as a beacon of discipline after she was forced to feed her her three months old grandchild porridge because her Gen Z daughter deserted the baby without milk.
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“I got the baby from the accused’s friend, I didn’t know what to do with it, the child was small. I just prepared porridge fed him and later bathed the baby and he slept,” 57 year old Faides Mwemba told the Magistrate Court.
This is in a case where 25-year-old Mumbe Nalumbe of John Laing is facing charges of child desertion after her mother reported her to the police for allegedly abandoning her three-month-old baby without milk.
She appeared before Resident Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli yesterday, charged with one count of child desertion, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Her mother, Mweemba, testified that in the early hours of February 27, 2025, around 02:00 hours she was awoken by a loud knock at her gate. Upon opening it, she found Nalumbe’s friend holding her grandchild.
“I asked her where the mother of the child was, she said she wasn’t around,” Mweemba told the court.
She explained that her daughter, Nalumbe, lived nearby in John Laing and highlighted challenges she faced in caring for her grandchild while the mother went MIA (missing in action).
“It has been difficult to feed the baby because I don’t have money to buy him milk.” She recounted how she took the baby, prepared porridge, bathed him, and put him to sleep.
Later that fateful morning, around 05:00 hours, Nalumbe reportedly knocked loudly on Mweemba’s door.
“I told her I will not give her the baby, I don’t know in what state she was. She went back and I reported the matter to the police,” Mweemba testified.
She also described her struggles in trying to find milk for the infant at social welfare homes.
Nalumbe, who was seen shedding tears in the dock during her mother’s testimony, initially denied the charge but later requested to change her plea to guilty.
When asked by the court if she had any questions for her mother, she confirmed that her mother’s testimony was true.
She admitted to leaving the baby with her friend but stated she had not informed the friend and did not leave any milk for the infant.
The court entered a plea of guilty, and the matter has been adjourned to July 14, 2025, for the presentation of facts and sentencing.
By Lucy Phiri
Picture for illustration
Kalemba July 11, 2025
