A 32-YEAR-OLD Triangle woman, accused of fatally poisoning five family members from her polygamous marriage last month, has been released on $100 bail by the High Court.
BY CHARLES LAITON
The suspect, Thikomuni Mapanya, a second wife, was released last week after High Court judge, Justice Samuel Kudya consented to her bail application.
Mapanya is alleged to have ganged up with the first wife, Makanani Lisimati (62) and killed Ester Kunguli, Sylivia and Beauty Baloyi, and Tafadzwa and Takundwa Pote by poisoning their food. The victims were all related to the third wife, Marita Zavirima.
Mapanya, through her lawyer, Benson Taruvinga, last week appeared before High Court judge, Justice Samuel Kudya, who granted her bail coupled with reporting conditions. Allegations against the two women were that on June 7, they administered a poisonous substance in a two-litre container of milk and gave it to the third wife, Zavirima, with the intention of killing her and her family members.
The State alleges Zavirima obliviously shared the poisoned milk with the five, who all died, but she survived after being induced to vomit.
In her bail statement, Mapanya denied any involvement in the poisoning and accused Lisimati of committing the heinous crime. Lisimati is yet to seek recourse at the High Court.
“I understand that it is Makanani (Lisimati) who made indications to police, leading to the recovery of the poison from the fields, where she had hidden it. I am not the one who threatened to poison or to use other means to kill Marita (Zavirima),” she said.
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According to Mapanya, on the day in question, she, her husband Musuteri Dhambara and Zavirima went to milk cows and on their return gave the milk to the first wife (Lisimati) for sharing.
Mapanya said she left for her residence after getting her share and so did Zavirima, but she later learnt of the poisoning, which shocked her.
“I do not know what happened at Marita’s homestead, but I suspect whatever poison there may have been was not in the milk, but in the sadza. I say so because I understand that one of Marita’s children ate the relish, but refused to eat sadza and the child suffered no symptoms of poisoning.”
