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Rudo Mandiro

Tragedy struck Maneta Primary School last week after the school’s feeding program resulted in the hospitalisation of 60 students and the death of one.
Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro confirmed the incident.

Mr Ndoro said on June 26th, five parents prepared sadza and soya chunks for the students as part of the school’s feeding program.

The food was served to all students at around 11 am.

“Shortly after lunch, the school’s head was called to Grade 4 and 5 classes where multiple students were vomiting. The students were immediately taken to the nearby Chimbudzi Clinic for medical attention,” said Mr Ndoro.

As the day progressed, more students fell sick and were sent to the health facility.

By 4pm, 23 students had been brought in for medical attention. Six hours later, the number had swelled to 57 students who were suffering from suspected food poisoning.

Murambinda Hospital and other health authorities were alerted, and a medical team was dispatched to the clinic.

Doctors attended to the affected students and discharged 43. Fourteen students required intravenous fluids before being sent home.

However, on June 28th, three students, including an ECD A pupil, were taken back to the clinic as they had persistent stomach aches.

Unfortunately, Tanya Chipiro, the ECD pupil, passed away around 3 pm that day.

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Mr Ndoro said the Ministry has sent a team of psychologists to the school to counsel the survivors and their families.

“The Maneta community is devastated by this incident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Tanya’s family and all those affected. We await the investigation’s findings to ensure that a tragedy of this nature does not occur again.”

Food samples have been collected and authorities are awaiting the results of laboratory tests to determine what happened.