Black Christmas for Inyathi, Nkayi families as FOUR children perish

BY STAFF REPORTER

Three children from a family in Matabeleland North’s Bubi district died on Christmas day after inhaling a pesticide that their parents used to fumigate their stored maize grain, police have said.

The children aged seven, five and one died in their sleep at Jowa village in Inyathi.

“Members of the public are urged to be cautious when using pesticides,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.

“On 25/12/21, three female infants aged seven, one and five years died in their sleep whilst their parents, aged 42 and 27 escaped death by a whisker at Jowa Village, Inyathii.

“The victims suffocated after their parents had applied Aluminium Phosphide 560TB fumigation tablets on their shelled maize, stored the maize in a storeroom next to their bedroom and went to bed.

“During the night, the victim’s parents developed some health complications and when they checked on their children they discovered that they had already died.”

The parents were rescued by neighbours, who ensured that they received treatment.

Meanwhile, police said on Boxing Day a 12-year-old boy from Nkayi is suspected to have accidentally hanged himself while playing a “swing game.”

“The police are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Simani Nyathi (12) of Mkubo Village, Nkayi which occurred on 26/12/21 at around 1400 hours,” police said on Wednesday.

“The victim is said to have been playing a swing game with his cousin sister (nine) when he was allegedly trapped and strangled to death by the swing rope.

“The body of the victim was found hanging from a tree in a kneeling position with a rope tied around his neck.

“Some bruises were observed around the victim’s neck and froth coming from the mouth.”