Angry Stepmother Allegedly Drowns Two Young Children in River

A dramatic scene unfolded in Lusaka, Zambia, where police intervened to save a man named Titus Kamanga from an angry crowd. He was accused of being complicit in the deaths of his two children, who tragically drowned in Ngwerere River. This unsettling incident occurred on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, after their stepmother, Mary Kachilika, allegedly threw them into the water.

At the time of the tragic incident, the children, aged six and two, were at home while their father worked. Their biological mother, Fanny Kanyinji, had stepped outside to carry out household chores when the incident unfolded. Upon hearing the children’s cries, she rushed towards the river only to discover they were missing.

Eyewitness accounts note that a fisherman witnessed Kachilika throwing the children into the river and apprehended her immediately. Initial investigations indicate that jealousy within the context of Kachilika's polygamous marriage may have driven her to commit such a horrific act.

Kachilika had entered into marriage with Kamanga on January 10, 2025, reportedly without any children of her own, while Kamanga's first wife had two children with him. After news of the drowning spread throughout Meanwood Kwamwena Phase 4, residents gathered at Kamanga's home, expressing anger and demanding clarification from the visibly distressed father.

The situation escalated, with some community members blaming Kamanga’s decision to marry a second wife for the devastating event, further igniting the tensions. Police arrived quickly to shield Kamanga from the furious crowd, placing him in a patrol vehicle as emotions ran high among onlookers.

As officers drove him away, parts of the crowd surged forward, threatening violence. Meanwhile, the search for the drowned children's bodies continued, involving personnel from the Zambia Police Service, the Zambia Army, and the Chongwe Council Fire Brigade, scouring the river and its surroundings.

As of now, more than 24 hours after the tragic event, the bodies have yet to be recovered. Investigative efforts are ongoing, and Kachilika, the 26-year- old woman suspected of the crime, remains in police custody while the authorities continue their inquiries into this distressing case.