By Wendy Mkandawire
Police in Chitipa District have urged parents and guardians to closely supervise children near streams, rivers, fish ponds, and other water bodies to prevent drowning incidents.
The appeal follows the death of 3-year-old Felix Sibale, who drowned in a fish pond at Kalenge in Chitipa District on 30th August 2026 at around 5pm.
According to Deputy Public Relations Officer for Chitipa Police Station, Sergeant Matthews Mfune, the boy’s mother had taken him to their tomato garden near Kalenge Stream to water tomatoes. While she was working, Felix was playing nearby with an empty plastic gallon.
Mfune said when the mother was about to leave the garden, she noticed Felix was missing and informed his father. The father, together with other villagers, joined the search.
“During the search, the group reached a nearby fish pond and found the empty plastic gallon floating on the water. They searched the pond and found Felix’s body in the water,” Mfune added.
The matter was reported to Chitipa Police Station. Police officers and medical personnel visited the scene.
A postmortem conducted by medical personnel established that Felix died due to suffocation.
Felix hailed from Peter Village under Traditional Authority Mwenemisuku in Chitipa District.
