News / National
Religious couple lose 2 daughter in 48 hours
08 Feb 2013 at 05:05hrs | Views
A Mandara couple lost two daughters within 48 hours after they reportedly failed to seek medical attention on religious grounds.
The girls, identified by neighbours as Christy and Charmaine Magwanyata, reportedly fell ill last week.
The girls were, however, taken to hospital upon the intervention of neighbours who called the police. However, Christy died on Wednesday this week. Charmaine died the following day.
The parents were also admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The girls' mother is reportedly critically ill and and still admitted at the hospital. The Herald visited the couple's home yesterday and the father expressed regret for failing to seek early medical attention.
"I have just been discharged from hospital and my wife is still admitted and I regret failing enormity of this problem in time," he said.
The man confirmed the death of one of his daughters.
He was, however, whisked away by relatives before he could fully identify himself.
It was also evident that relatives had not informed him of the other girl's death.
A relative, who refused to be identified, confirmed the daughters' death.
"We are now scared, because this is so unusual, these children were still to start their lives and it is not fair that they had to die due to beliefs that they were forcibly made to be subject to," he said.
Neighbours confirmed that the elder of the girls was in Grade 7 while her sibling had not started school.
"This family has always been mysterious, though medical professionals say it might have been cerebral malaria," a neighbour said.
The girls, identified by neighbours as Christy and Charmaine Magwanyata, reportedly fell ill last week.
The girls were, however, taken to hospital upon the intervention of neighbours who called the police. However, Christy died on Wednesday this week. Charmaine died the following day.
The parents were also admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The girls' mother is reportedly critically ill and and still admitted at the hospital. The Herald visited the couple's home yesterday and the father expressed regret for failing to seek early medical attention.
"I have just been discharged from hospital and my wife is still admitted and I regret failing enormity of this problem in time," he said.
He was, however, whisked away by relatives before he could fully identify himself.
It was also evident that relatives had not informed him of the other girl's death.
A relative, who refused to be identified, confirmed the daughters' death.
"We are now scared, because this is so unusual, these children were still to start their lives and it is not fair that they had to die due to beliefs that they were forcibly made to be subject to," he said.
Neighbours confirmed that the elder of the girls was in Grade 7 while her sibling had not started school.
"This family has always been mysterious, though medical professionals say it might have been cerebral malaria," a neighbour said.
Source - TH
