Maid 'chokes’ baby to death with an overdose of porridge

A 10-MONTH-OLD baby choked to death recently while being fed with an overdose of porridge by a maid at a home in Sakubva.

Nicole Nyambo died upon admission at Sakubva District Hospital after the family maid, Everjoy Sithole, admitted to giving her an overdose of maize-meal porridge using a cup.

Nicole has since been buried at Yeovil Cemetery in the city.

Police this week said investigations were in progress.

Still struggling to face the sad reality of the untimely death of her second-born child, Nicole's mother, Nester Nyambo, revealed to The Weekender this week that although she does not habour any hard feelings against Everjoy - a maid she loved and trusted so much - she expressed hope the police would investigate the matter to its logical conclusion.

"I am still at a loss of words. We knew Nicole as a baby who never loved to eat. On that particular day, at around 7am I bade farewell to my child, but never thought that was the last time to do so.

"I received a phone call at around 7.30am, only to be told that she had been choked to death while feeding.

"I think Everjoy fed her with too much porridge. Unfortunately no one can run away from death. Everjoy was a maid whom I had confidence in and I would feel comfortable to leave my late child in her custody.

"It was an accident, yes, but I hope police will do their job. I don't blame her, it happens, but there are some loose ends to be tied in this whole matter.

"She occasionally changed her statements. She first told us that she was feeding Nicole with a tea spoon and later said she fed her using a cup. Why lying?

"Secondly, Everjoy never gave herself a minute to sit down with me and explain what really transpired on the fateful day. She later told me that torai henyu mwana wangu kana zvirikunyanyonetsa (thathani umntanami ma kuhlupha). I am still struggling to face reality. I, however, hope the truth will prevail at the end of the day," said Nester who was struggling to compose herself throughout the interview.

Post mortem results showed that Nicole was choked by porridge and failed to breathe.

In a separate interview in Tenderere section of Sakubva, Everjoy (20) who needed the company of her mother to entertain The Weekender news crew professed innocence and confirmed that indeed it was porridge and nothing else that killed Nicole.

"You can imagine how difficult it has been for me to convince them (Nicole's family) that I am innocent and I did not have any sinister intentions.

"I fed the baby using a spoon and after I realised that maybe she was not having enough, I fed her using a cup. A few minutes later she was choked, it was probably because she had taken a large amount of it.

"She started acting weirdly and looked like she wanted to vomit. I eventually took her to Sakubva District Hospital where she died upon arrival. It was a painful experience. From then on, I have been explaining to everyone who dared to listen that I am innocent and this was a pure accident.

"I am a parent and I was employed as a maid to sustain my family," said Everjoy who revealed that she even contemplated killing herself after the incident.

Everjoy's mother, Junior, said although tampers flared a few days after the incident (between the Nyambo and the Sithole families), she hoped that the two parties would let bygones be bygones.

"It has been a difficult time for us, but we hope all shall be well."