Two children die as elder son, parents lie in critical condition

A bubbling family of five had gathered last Friday at Chemusa in Blantyre to eat their simple meal of nsima served with therere (okra). Little did they know this was the ‘last supper’ for the three children and their parents which, for some unknown reason, a Judas is suspected to have poisoned

Consequently two innocent souls of Dumisani, 12, and Mtendere, 7, were prematurely plucked out of this earth and now their bodies lie side by side at a cemetery in Lunzu after succumbing to food poisoning seven hours of each other.  Their brother still lies in critical condition at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where their parents Anthony and Janet Lemani are also admitted.

The bizarre circumstances surrounding the deaths forced some grief stricken residents of Chemusa to go on rampage and raze seven houses of the family’s neighbours, including their property, during the burial of the two children on Wednesday following unconfirmed reports that the family had a row with one of the neighbours.

The whereabouts of the neighbours, who escaped the violence that ensued, remains unknown, but the police said they are investigating the matter.

According to an uncle, Donnex Mchenga, post mortems conducted on Wednesday reveal that the family had ingested food with poison that severely damaged the intestines and livers of the children.

 “Their hearts and part of their brains were also affected,” he said.

A second post mortem conducted by forensic pathologist and clinical forensic physician, Dr, Charles Dzamalala, ascertained an earlier one by Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) that the deaths were due to poisoning.

Dzamalala was unavailable for comment on Friday.

According to another uncle James Lemani, Dumisani was first treated for stomach pains and vomiting as an outpatient at Sonke Health Centre in Mbayani.

Holding back tears, he said the Standard Two pupil’s situation worsened, prompting them to return to the facility.

“Unfortunately, he collapsed and was subsequently taken to Queen Elizabeth where he gained consciousness,” he said.

James said as the family prepared to bring milk to the referral facility for Dumisani at about 3 pm, Mtendere, a Standard One learner, exhibited similar symptoms and was rushed to the same referral hospital.

With the two children hospitalised, the parents and Maison, 16, the eldest of the siblings began vomiting after experiencing stomach pains.

By 5 pm last Saturday, the parents and Maison were now admitted in the same ward.

According to James, tests showed the family was poisoned, but he could not elaborate on the type of poison.

“On Sunday, Mtendere passed away at about 4 pm and we made funeral arrangements with the boys’ parents incapacitated,” he said.

Dumisani followed his brother, five years his junior, at 11 pm.

Both attended Tamanda Private School in Chemusa while Maison—now in ICU—is in Form One at Namiwawa Secondary School.

Anthony, the father, a security guard at Malawi Posts Corporation and wife, Janet, have not had time to mourn their children as they, too, returned to hospital despite being discharged on Monday.

Meanwhile, the children’s aunt Martha Alfonso, claimed that after interacting with the parents upon their discharge, they suspect one of the neighbours  whom, they were at loggerheads with, had a hand in their fate.

Nation on Sunday could not, however, independently confirm the allegations.

On their part, South West Police Region spokesperson Joseph Sauka said in a telephone interview on Friday that investigations have been instituted.

He also confirmed that they are trying to locate the particular neighbour, who is alleged to have bolted on Sunday evening after news of the children’s death reached the neighbourhood.

“We have opened a file on this matter to find the alleged person who might have done this as the family suspects a neighbour allegedly poisoned them,” he said.

When bodies of the children were taken to Chemusa on Wednesday for burial, there was commotion as mourners pounced on the alleged suspect’s house and those belonging to his relatives, razing it and slashing his crops.

It took officers from Chapima Police Unit to calm the situation before prayers proceeded.

Burial took place in Lunzu their home village the same Wednesday.

Meanwhile,the family has appealed to well-wishers to help them settle a post mortem bill amounting to K1 380 000

An invoice, number 014/24 from Malmed Healthcare Services signed by Dzamalala shows that the amount should be paid within 14 days from January 24 2024.

The bill comprises pathologist fees for the forensic autopsies at K900 000 for both children, mortuary assistants fee at K300 000, laboratory analyses at K120 000 and use of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences mortuary at K60 000.

The parents’ condition had not yet improved as we went to press while Maison was still in ICU.