A 24-year-old woman was arrested by the police at Swakopmund on Thursday in connection with the death of her three-month-old baby girl.
According to Erongo police spokesperson chief inspector Ileni Shapumba, the body of the baby was discovered by navy members who were on patrol behind the naval base at Walvis Bay on Thursday morning.
The baby was buried in a shallow grave next to the sea.
Shapumba noted that a preliminary investigation revealed that Ashley Mudimu, a Zimbabwean national, was left at home by her boyfriend with the baby on Wednesday at around 10h00.
The boyfriend, who is also a Zimbabwean national, did not find her at home on his return an hour later.
According to the police he looked for her without success and reported Mudimu and the baby missing at Tutaleni Police Station on Thursday.
The police appealed to the public for help to find Mudimu after the discovery of the baby’s body.
Shapumba said it is suspected that the baby had been killed and was then buried in a shallow grave.
The baby’s body was positively identified by her father, and a post-mortem examination is to be done to determine the cause of her death, Shapumba said.
The baby’s mother was arrested at Swakopmund on Thursday evening.
The boyfriend was also detained by the police in connection with his residence status in Namibia.
Police investigations continue.
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