A 37-year-old woman from Zvimba District in Mashonaland West Province appeared before the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on Monday to face charges of attempted murder after deliberately poisoning 8 school children.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the accused allegedly prepared food containing poison and provided it to her daughter to share with her classmates at Matoranhimbe Primary School. Six students consumed the poisoned food and experienced severe stomach issues.
The suspect has been detained and is scheduled to apply for bail on June 20th.
Police Statement
On Sunday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi reported that eight students fell ill on Friday after consuming rice and soup at school. These students began vomiting and complained of stomach pains shortly after eating the meal, which had been packed in a lunch box.
The students were subsequently transported to Murombedzi Rural Hospital for medical treatment.
Investigations revealed that one of the students had brought the lunch box containing the contaminated food from home. This student had been given two lunch boxes by her parent, who instructed her on how to distribute the food among her peers.
Investigations by the police led to the arrest of the mother and subsequent detaining and ongoing trial. The State is slapping the woman with attempted murder charges of the school children.
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Community Reactions
In response to the incident, some community members have suggested that parents should teach their children to avoid eating food from unknown sources. Additionally, there are calls for a thorough investigation into possible bullying at the school, which could have prompted the parent’s drastic actions.
The heartbreaking story has gained a lot of attention on social media, with some socialites sharing it.
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