THREE CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH IN KAPIRI MPOSHI, GRANDMOTHER FAILS TO RESCUE THEM AFTER FINDING DOOR TIED WITH WIRE

Three children from the same family have tragically died after a grass-thatched house they were sleeping in caught fire in Nalubwe Village, Chipepo area of Kapiri Mposhi District in Central Province.

The incident happened on Saturday evening, October 24, 2026, between 20:00 and 21:00 hours, as Zambia celebrated its 62nd Independence Day.

The deceased have been identified as Jonathan Lyampali, aged 11, Francina Lyampali, aged nine, and Roydah Lyampali, aged six.

Central Province Police Commanding Officer Lemekani Chirwa confirmed the incident, revealing that the children’s mother, Eunice Shensempe, had left them sleeping in the house at around 20:00 hours before going to Kapandwe Market.

According to police, the mother stated that she had closed the door without locking it and had not left any fire burning inside the house.

However, while at the market, she received a distressing phone call from her mother, Roydah Musema, informing her that the house had caught fire and that all three children had died.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the children’s grandmother heard them crying for help and immediately rushed to rescue them.

Unfortunately, upon reaching the burning house, she allegedly discovered that the door had been tied with a wire, making it impossible for her to open it and save the children.

Police have since launched investigations to establish the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the door reportedly being secured with wire.

The bodies of the three children were retrieved from the scene and transported to Kabwe Central Hospital Mortuary, where they are awaiting postmortem examinations.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the tragedy occurred barely a month after the children’s parents separated in September 2026.

The parents, Eunice Shensempe and Jonathan Lyampali, reportedly married in 2016 and had four children together.

Following their separation, the mother relocated from their matrimonial home in Nchepeshi Village to her parents’ residence in Nalubwe Village with three of the children, while the eldest child remained with the father.

Police investigations into the tragic incident are ongoing.

Source: Journalist Joseph Siambihi.
Zambian Watch.