News / National
Four family members die after eating poisonous mushrooms
20 Feb 2012 at 16:55hrs | Views
FOUR members of the same family in Mabasa rural area, Zvishavane, died while two others are battling for their lives in hospital after eating poisonous mushroom over the weekend.
Three sisters - Chido (9), Sithembile (12), Memory Mabvumira (16) - and their grandmother Ambuya Maware (65) died soon after eating the mushroom on Saturday.
The mother of the deceased children, Rutendo Moyo and her five-year-old son Given Mabvumira were rushed to White Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
Acting Zvishavane police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Moreen Gumbo confirmed the incident.
She said Ambuya Maware picked the mushroom from a nearby bush on Saturday morning.
Later in the day, she instructed one of her grandchildren Memory to prepare the mushroom for relish.
"The four who were at home ate the food, leaving some for two family members who were not at home," said Asst Inspector Gumbo.
She said the four will be buried tomorrow.
Last year, two family members from Epworth, Harare, died of mushroom poisoning.
Mushroom picking is a favourite pastime for most families this time of the year.
Nhedzi, tsvuke-tsvuke, firifiti and Jokowa are among the most common edible wild mushroom varieties.
This most favoured above ground fruiting body of a fungus, usually found under bark, ground, rotten wood and leaves is generally consumed by many households as a delicious relish.
It is categorised into poisonous and edible fungus.
This implies that there is need for caution before one touches, picks or even considers eating it.
Mushroom poisoning results from people mistakenly identifying poisonous mushroom as edible.
Experienced mushroom gatherers are sometimes poisoned by eating poisonous species, despite being well aware of the risk.
Three sisters - Chido (9), Sithembile (12), Memory Mabvumira (16) - and their grandmother Ambuya Maware (65) died soon after eating the mushroom on Saturday.
The mother of the deceased children, Rutendo Moyo and her five-year-old son Given Mabvumira were rushed to White Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
Acting Zvishavane police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Moreen Gumbo confirmed the incident.
She said Ambuya Maware picked the mushroom from a nearby bush on Saturday morning.
Later in the day, she instructed one of her grandchildren Memory to prepare the mushroom for relish.
"The four who were at home ate the food, leaving some for two family members who were not at home," said Asst Inspector Gumbo.
She said the four will be buried tomorrow.
Last year, two family members from Epworth, Harare, died of mushroom poisoning.
Mushroom picking is a favourite pastime for most families this time of the year.
Nhedzi, tsvuke-tsvuke, firifiti and Jokowa are among the most common edible wild mushroom varieties.
This most favoured above ground fruiting body of a fungus, usually found under bark, ground, rotten wood and leaves is generally consumed by many households as a delicious relish.
It is categorised into poisonous and edible fungus.
This implies that there is need for caution before one touches, picks or even considers eating it.
Mushroom poisoning results from people mistakenly identifying poisonous mushroom as edible.
Experienced mushroom gatherers are sometimes poisoned by eating poisonous species, despite being well aware of the risk.
Source - TH
