Police at Kanengo in Lilongwe, have arrested a 27-year-old mother,  for abandoning her newborn baby in a drainage system shortly after giving birth.

Spokesperson for Kanengo Police, Sub Inspector Gresham Ngwira, has confirmed the arrest and he has identified the mother as Mada Kalithela.

According to Ngwira, one of the neighbors was alarmed by the continuous crying of a baby around 3 a.m. When the neighbor went outside to investigate, they found the baby lying in the mud inside a drainage channel.

Police arrested the woman after it was discovered that before this incident, she had lied to her employers, claiming she had stomach issues, which explained her enlarged belly at the time.

Ngwira further mentioned that both the woman and the baby are currently receiving medical care at Area 25 Hospital. Once discharged she will face charges of attempted murder in court.

Mada Kalithera who hails from Chinamwali Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mlumbe, Zomba,