Four people died from suspected food poisoning in Kadoma last week, while six others are battling for life at Harare Central Hospital. The poison also claimed birds, goats and dogs. The dogs died after eating goats that died after consuming the food in a chain reaction that has left people at Hezelmare 19 Mine and surrounding areas shocked. On the fateful Friday afternoon last week, Gift Watungwa (37) allegedly took a 20kg bucket of maize to the mill and on arrival he requested for an empty sack to transfer his maize, but the mill operator Mr Norbert Mhazi said he did not have any. Instead, he was shown a pile of maize and mealie-meal bags on the other side of the room. Watungwa allegedly took a bag that used to contain mealie- meal and put his maize inside. He headed home where another mineworker Douglas Pepukai (22) prepared sadza using mealie-meal from the bag.
The sadza was served with chicken bought at Hezelmare Shopping Centre. After eating the food, the 10 men started complaining of stomach pains and their condition continued to deteriorate before they fell unconscious. Another worker, who did not eat the food, made a report to the police and they were taken to Kadoma General Hospital. The 10 were subsequently transferred to Harare Central Hospital after their condition got serious. Acting Mashonaland West police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera confirmed the incident. He said the bodies of the dead were awaiting post-mortem at Harare Central Hospital mortuary. The other six victims are still admitted at Harare Hospital where their condition was reported to be stable. "We are investigating a case in which four people have so far died after eating food suspected to have been contaminated with poison," said Asst Insp Kohwera. "Investigations are still at their infancy and we are following on a number of leads." The mill operator is assisting police with investigations.
- RSOE EDIS
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