Sumbawanga — A SEVENTEEN-year-old teenager, Prisca Dickson, from Mnazi Village, Ulumi Ward in the newly established Kalambo District is alleged to have killed her new born baby by throwing it into a pit latrine shortly after safely giving birth.

The girl is said to have done the grisly act to avoid being rejected by her fiance, after being impregnated by another man. Rukwa Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Jacob Mwaruanda, confirmed the incident saying it occurred shortly after mid-night on January 14, this year, at Mnazi Village where Prisca safely delivered a baby. She thereafter threw it while alive in a pit latrine at a house in the neighbourhood.

The RPC further narrated that on that fateful day, Prisca safely delivered a baby girl at home without assistance from anybody, as she was the sole occupant. Thereafter, she wrapped the baby while alive with a piece of khanga and threw it into the latrine pit.

"Early in the morning, some students who were on their way to school, who happened to pass nearby, heard faint noises from the latrine É some of them proceeded to school while others rushed and alerted village leaders over the incident," the RPC added.

According to him, the elders reported the matter to the police and a search for the suspect started. With the help of villagers Prisca was apprehended. It was further alleged that the suspect's fiance, whose name could not be established, was not aware that she was pregnant, as he was living far away in another village and had not visited her for a long time.

Mr Mwaruanda expounded that during interrogation and the suspect confessed that she was engaged and had arranged to get married. According to the RPC, the suspect also admitted that she decided to commit the crime for fear of being abandoned by her fiance because the pregnancy belonged to another man.

It was further alleged that the postmortem reports established that the infant died of suffocation and that the suspect will soon be arraigned as soon as preliminary investigations are over, according to the RPC.