Woman poisons stepson to death

A Buhera woman allegedly poisoned her husband's child (2) over the mysterious deaths of her children last week. The two-year-old child belonged to her husband's second wife whom she accused of bewitching her child.

Emilia Chinowawa (33) lost three children in two years and attributed the calamity to her husband's other wife, Sarah Murigwa's black magic. She allegedly poisoned Murigwa's 2-year-old child who later died after complaining of severe stomach pains.

Police confirmed the murder which happened in Chigidi Village under Chief Makumbe in Buhera. Assistant Manicaland police spokesperson, Asst Insp Luxson Chananda, said Murigwa (31) and Chinowawa who are both married to Abel Chigidi (38) always fought over Chinowawa's allegations that her co-wife had killed all her children and never wanted her to enjoy motherhood. Chinowawa lost her three children between 2010 and 2012 and suspected that Murigwa had bewitched her.

"On 27 February at around 5am, Murigwa left her child asleep with Esnath Tamanikwa and went to fetch water. Esnath also went away and left the baby unattended. Chinowawa allegedly mixed rat poison with water, sneaked into Murigwa's room and forced the child to drink the concoction. Murigwa later came back and saw her child outside the kitchen hut writhing in pain.

"The infant had also soiled himself and was continuously vomiting. The boy's mother realised that her son was sweating abnormally and he died before she took him to the hospital," said Asst Insp Chananda.

He added that Chinowawa, upon being quizzed by the police admitted that she had poisoned Murigwa's baby. She is assisting police with investigations.