Police in Balaka have arrested a 21-year-old woman, identified as Magret Victor, for allegedly murdering her two-year-old biological son, Fahad Frank, by poisoning him with pesticide chemicals before allegedly strangling him to death.
Confirming the arrest, Balaka Police Station Public Relations Officer, Inspector Gladson M’bumba, said the suspect is from Saidi Village under Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka and is believed to have committed the offence on Monday, May 18, 2026.
According to police reports, Magret gave birth to Fahad in March 2024. However, due to health complications, she was unable to breastfeed him.
As a result, her sister, Pilirani Victor, took responsibility for caring for the child, including breastfeeding him.
In July 2025, Magret reportedly left the village for Mangochi in search of piecework and later secured employment as a housemaid. She returned home in January 2026 and found her son still under Pilirani’s care.
Police say tensions escalated on Sunday, May 17, 2026, after an argument broke out between the two sisters. During the disagreement, Pilirani allegedly insulted Magret by telling her that she had not raised the child and was therefore not a real parent to him.
Investigators allege that Magret became angered by the remarks and decided to end her son’s life. It is alleged that on Monday, May 18, she poisoned the child using pesticide chemicals.
Later that day, Pilirani reportedly noticed that the child, who was being carried on Magret’s back, appeared weak and had whitish foam coming from his mouth.
Alarmed, she rushed him to Balaka District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident was reported to the police, who swiftly launched investigations and arrested the suspect. The child’s body was initially kept at Balaka District Hospital.
On Wednesday, May 20, the body was taken to Chiradzulu District Hospital for a postmortem examination. According to police, forensic findings revealed that the child had been poisoned and later strangled.
Authorities say stomach and liver tissue samples will be sent to Bwemba Central Veterinary Laboratory to determine the exact chemical substance allegedly used in the poisoning.
The suspect is expected to appear in court once investigations and paperwork are completed.
