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Rutendo Rori Marondera Correspondent
Four children from Murehwa died in their sleep last week in a suspected case of suffocation after their 60-year-old grandmother had treated some maize grain with an unknown chemical before storing it in the bedroom.

Nenyasha (3), Ngoni (11), Tinotenda (4) and Ruwarashe (4), from the Manzinde family of Manyange Village under Chief Mangwende, reportedly died after inhaling the unknown chemical used to treat the maize by their grandmother, Mrs Irene Manzinde. Mashonaland East acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident yesterday and said investigations were in progress.

“Manzinde and her other two grandchildren Shamiso (12) and Hope (5), who were sleeping in the same room, survived and were rushed to Nhowe Mission Hospital where they were admitted and are in a stable condition,” said Asst Insp Mwanza. He said on October 13, Mrs Manzinde treated her maize grain with fumigation tablets and stored it in her bedroom. During the same night, Mrs Manzinde retired to bed in the same bedroom with her grandchildren. Whilst they were asleep, it is suspected that they were intoxicated by the fumigating tablet, resulting in the death of the four grandchildren. The following morning, Mrs Manzinde woke up and discovered what had transpired and told her neighbour Mr Howard Mhandu.

“The scene was attended by Murehwa police and it was observed that an odour of the tablet was coming out of the bedroom. The bodies of the deceased were ferried to Murehwa Hospital mortuary for post mortem,” said Asst Insp Mwanza.