Malawi Hunger: Four die due to food poisoning

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Police

In a suspected case of food poisoning, four people have died in Dowa district after eating nsima at their farm.

Dowa police publicist Richard Kaponda has identified the deceased as Agnes Biliyati, 11, Enifa Malekano, 3, Daniel Biliyati, 14, and Emily Biliyati, 24.

Kaponda explained that the four went to their field to inspect crops and to make sure that monkeys are not destroying the plants.

PoliceAccording to Kaponda, whenever the family members went to their farm, they cooked Nsima and when there is extra flour, they used to keep it at the farm for future use.

 “On this day, during lunch time they cooked Nsima as usual using flour they had left on a previous trip which they mixed with flour they brought on that day,” said Kaponda.

He said the four collapsed soon after eating the food and a farmer in a nearby field saw them and reported the matter to the village head who called the police.

Police rushed to the scene and took the four to Dowa district hospital where Agnes and Enifa were pronounced dead. The other two, Daniel and Emily, were referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital where they also died.

The four hailed from Chanuka Village in the area of Traditional Authority Nsakambewa in Dowa district.