8-Year-Old Boy Dies after Allegedly Being Buried Alive in Lumezi

By ZR Reporter

An eight-year-old boy has died in Lumezi District after he was allegedly lured into the bush by an unknown man who then buried him and his nine-year-old sister in a pit.The incident happened between 14:00 and 17:00 hours on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at High Beck Farm in Chief Chikomeni’s area.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba identified the deceased as Mathias Banda, who had gone with his sister, Agnes Banda, to catch rats about 1.5 kilometres from their home.The children had reportedly been left behind after other family members went to attend a funeral.

Mr Mweemba said the siblings encountered an unknown man who offered to show them a place where they could find more mice. Police allege that instead of taking them to the promised location, the man dug a pit, put both children inside and buried them before fleeing.

Agnes is said to have managed to free herself from the sand and ran back home, where she alerted villagers. Residents reportedly rushed to the scene and dug Mathias out, but he had already died.

His body has since been deposited at Lumezi District Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police have launched investigations to establish the identity of the suspect and bring him to justice.

© Zambia Reports | August 2026