A TWO-YEAR-OLD child has died after being burnt while following other children who were hunting for mice in Lumezi, Eastern Province.

The hunting expedition was led by the oldest, an 11-year-old girl, but also included a nine-year-old boy. The youngest was a boy aged two years four months.

Eastern Province police commanding officer Limpo Liywalii told journalists yesterday that the incident happened on Tuesday around 10:00 hours at Tiyese village under Chief Mwasemphangwe.

Mr Liywalii said when the three went to hunt for mice, popularly known as mbeba, in the bush, they left the toddler home while the mother was sweeping in the house.

While in the bush, they found some part already burning but decided to extend the fire to their targeted section.

“The three juveniles found fire in the bush and decided to set the field on fire not knowing that the other juvenile had followed them,” he said.

Later, the child was heard crying in the field and the mother, identified as Margret Zulu, was alerted and she managed to find her child burnt but still breathing.

Mr Liywalii said the mother, who was also crying at the sight of her burning child, managed to put off the fire on the baby and took her home.

The other children, curious as to what could be happening, appeared after hearing the mother crying.

The mother tried to take her baby to the nearest clinic but he died on the way.

She later informed her husband, who also told the village headman and eventually the matter was reported to Lumezi Police Station.

Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri recently cautioned people against setting bushes on fire while hunting for mice, which is regarded as a delicacy, especially in the region