A 14-year-old boy with a physical disability in Lotani Village, Mambwe district has died while crying out to his father after a fire broke out in his room.
Josephat Sakala, who could not walk, was alone in his bed when the blaze broke out around 20:00 hours last evening.
According to Eastern Province commanding officer Robertson Mweemba, the teenager was burnt to ashes.
The elder sister, Natasha Sakala, aged 20, together with their father, Yotam Sakala, aged 50 had earlier left home for a meeting in Mphata area of Chief Jumbe within the district, leaving the Josephat at home as he was unable to walk.
“At about 17:00 hours, Natasha Sakala returned home and found the deceased at the house,” Mweemba narrated.
“She prepared supper for [Josephat and served it in his room and around 18:00 hours she retired to bed in her own room leaving the deceased resting on his bed.”
But around 20:00 hours, while asleep, Natasha heard the deceased calling out for his father from his room.
She initially did not respond, as it was common for him to call whenever he could not see his father.
But upon hearing him call for a second time, Natasha went to check on him and discovered smoke and fire engulfing the room, making it impossible to enter.
Natasha then alerted the neighbours and the villagers managed to get in after breaking the window to his bedroom but the body was beyond salvation as it had suffered severe burns.
“Physical inspection of the body revealed severe burns all over the body. The house, including the deceased’s room,was extensively damaged, with property destroyed by fire,” Mweemba told Kalemba.
“The cause of the fire has not yet been established.”
The family did not suspect foul play and decided to proceeded with burial arrangements.
However, police has instituted investigations.
Kalemba April 25, 2026