She allegedly stole the baby to save her marriage.

The suspect has been identified as Chrissie Vitche Banda, from Chikhutu village in the area of Traditional Authority Zulu in the district.

The mother, 28 year-old Lucia Clement, delivered her baby boy on December 31 2016 with some complication which forced her to remain in the hospital.

According to spokesperson for Mchinji Police, the baby went missing when the mother left it to receive food.

“It is at this point that Banda seized an opportunity to sneak into the room to carry out his mission that was not only aimed at pleasing her husband but also to save her marriage,” said Chauluka.

Investigations to establish the whereabouts of both the stolen child and the thief were instituted until on Thursday December 5 2017 when information reached Mchinji Police concerning missing bay.

The woman had no record but she was spoted nurturing a one week old baby at Chikhutu village in T/A Zulu's area in Mchinji,.

"Some elderly women from the village mobilized themselves to examine the woman if she had fresh labor signs, but they did not see any and went on to alert the Police who rushed to arrest and recover the baby," said Mchinji Police spokesperson.

The suspect, mother of three and got married to the current husband in May last year, revealed to the law enforcers that she had a three month pregnancy at some point, but miscarried in August and never informed the husband.

The suspect will appear before Mchinji Magistrate's Court soon to answer charges of child stealing which is contrary to Section 167 of the Penal Code.

The baby has since been handed over to Mchinji District Hospital officials where they are proceeding with the special care which was supposed to be administered.