Food Poisoning Claims Pupil’s Life at Bulawayo School, with 2 Others Hospitalised

19 February 2022
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube

Emakhandeni – A Grade 4 pupil has died and two others are in a stable condition at Mpilo Central Hospital after eating food laced with poison at school.

The tragic incident happened at Emakhandeni Primary School last Wednesday.

The hospital is carrying out tests so as to establish the type of poison the three girls consumed after eating snacks commonly referred to as ‘Jiggies’ and drinking traditionally brewed non-alcoholic maize meal drink, Mahewu.

The food is said to have been brought by a different student who gave it to her mates but somehow she did not eat the same.

Mpilo Hospital’s CEO Professor Dr. Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the tragic incident.

“I can confirm that on Wednesday, three primary school children were befallen by tragedy.

“One of them was brought to the hospital already dead, and the other two girls are admitted at our hospital and they are undergoing treatment and further investigation. We send our condolences to the family and are very saddened by this development.”

Prof. Dr. Ngwenya said the two hospitalised pupils were in stable condition.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZRP, has launched an investigation to the incident as it is said to be linked to a similar one that occurred sometime ago.

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Previously, Police have been told that the grandmother of the pupil who brought the snacks and Mahewu gave her grandchild food laced with poison as she was ‘tired of stories of other children asking to food from her grandchild”.

It is the same pupil who gave the three the snacks and Mahewu leading to the tragic death of one.

When the the news of the poisoning and the death of the pupil reached school’s authorities it is reported the head, G. Sibanda, collapsed.

A source who prefered anonimity said,

“There is a girl who brought Mahewu and Jiggies and gave away to her friends. Surprisingly she did not eat the food herself. This happened during break time at round 10.30AM as these children always share their food.

“The three pupils fell ill immediately, but the teachers did not act quick enough. There is a clinic a stonethrow away from the school but none thought about it. An ambulance was only called around 2pm, unfortunately it was too late for one of the children.”

“About two years ago, a similar incident happened whereby the grandmother got tired of children asking for food from her granddaughter and so she applied poison to a drink which she was to give away. Fortunately, the pupil who was given the drink survived,” a police source revealed.

Investigations are continuing

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