ONE D£AD, NINE OTHERS HOSPITALIZED ON THE COPPERBELT IN SUSPECTED FOOD POISONING, POLICE SAY
A 26-year-old man of Mpongwe has died while nine of his colleagues have been hospitalised for suspected poisoning from food they consumed.
Coilard Chisamba, a general worker along with his colleagues started to feel dizzy after consuming the food comprising Nshima, eggs, soya chunks, goat meat and small fish.
Unfortunately for him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, while nine of his colleagues have been hospitalised.
Copperbelt Province commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said the incident occurred on December 13th at around 15:00 hours at Somawhe Estates.
He said the incident was reported by the deceased’s older brother.
“Brief facts of the matter are that the following mentioned workers, namely Robert Kamponge, aged 38, Salachi Gilbert aged 52, Mesaya Chitangama aged 19, Abednego aged 18, Joshua Silomba aged 27, Benson Manase aged 27, Kennedy Mulai aged 24 ,Philimon Chiboshi aged 40 and Mukuka Pius aged 25 all reported on duty at Somawhe Farms, where they operate at the chemical shed,” he said.
He said, Coillard Chisamba, the now deceased along with two others were assigned to cut chemical empty containers of 20 liters and 25 liters into smaller pieces for recycling.
Mr Mweemba said while others were assigned to mix chemicals in readiness to be used to spray in the field.
“The workers usually have their lunch at 12:00 hours after contributing mealie meal and relish which they went with from their various homes. One of the workers was assigned to cook nshima at lunch time, which all the ten as a group ate with different relish which included small fish, eggs, soya chunks and goat meat,” he said.
He explained that after having nshima, they also drank water from the farm tap.
Mr Mweemba said however, after a short moment, each one of them started feeling dizzy and were rushed to the farm clinic where they were later referred to Mpongwe Mission Hospital.
He said unfortunately, Coilard Chisamba was pronounced dead.
“Police rushed to the hospital and found six of the victims admitted to Mpongwe Mission Hospital, where they found the victims being attended to by medical personnel. Three other victims were referred to Roan General Hospital where they are admitted,” he said.
He added that the cause of the poisoning is not yet known and Somawhe management is yet to be engaged to establish the cause.
Mwebantu