POLICE in Manicaland yesterday said preliminary investigations into a suspected food poisoning incident which left 22 villagers from Chief Musikavanhu’s area in Chipinge hospitalised this week indicated that the villagers could have consumed a traditionally brewed beverage (maheu) laced with a cotton pesticide. Report by Obey Manayiti
The villagers are alleged to have started complaining of stomach ache soon after having the drink prepared for them by a fellow villager Musaingana Muyambo during a community working party known as nhimbe in Shona.
“One of Muyambo’s wives was tasked to brew maheu and she went to buy the maize ingredients from Mozambique on January 31.
We suspect that the sack which she used to carry the maize was previously used to carry cotton chemicals,” said Manicaland assistant police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda.
“The majority of the affected villagers are from Muyambo family. The function was hosted at Musaingana Muyambo’s homestead and present were Muyambo’s 12 children and his three wives together with six other villagers,” said Chananda.
The villagers were initially rushed to Hwakwata Clinic before they were transferred to St Peter’s Mission Hospital in Chipinge. Although hospital officials could not be reached for comment yesterday, fellow villagers described the victims’ condition as critical.
