Africa-Press – Malawi. The Malawi Police have arrested 45-year-old father, Isaac Mbewe, after he abandoned his two children in Balaka District. Balaka Police spokesperson Chisomo Kanyimbi, confirmed the arrest adding that Mbewe was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and he’s expected to appear before the magistrate court on Friday.
The arrest comes after Sunday Times published a story on February 20, 2022 regarding the two children who were staying alone after their parents divorced and left them on their own.
The disagreements between the two parents started after the eldest of the children, a girl now aged 13, was diagnosed with HIV when she was 6 years old.
It is suspecting that the girl contracted the virus through a blood transfusion she received at a hospital in Mzuzu when she was taken ill while aged five as her parents were both negative at the time.
The wife returned to her village in Mzuzu while the man, from Balaka, remarried and went away to stay with the new wife, leaving his two children alone.
The children coming from the Traditional Authority (T.A) Amidu in Balaka District have since been struggling to fend for themselves and eldest, Mercy, disclosed that she had been juggling between school and doing piece work to bring food in the house.
The lady also revealed that she had been struggling to access ARV drugs as the health centre is very far from where she stays. She disclosed that she has been wrestling with suicidal thoughts as she gets bullied by friends and community members for being HIV positive.
However, a volunteer in the village, Stella Ndau, took the initiative of helping the child to get her drugs and the Standard 8 student, Mercy, has been always among top in class since.
The Group Village Headman Namwera admitted to knowing the girl and has requesting support from well wishers. District Social Welfare office however, said it was not aware of the case, and has promised to follow up.
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