News / National
Son tries to poison stepmom, kills niece instead
13 Feb 2014 at 06:12hrs | Views
A jealous step son's attempt to eliminate his father's second wife with a poisoned soft drink backfired when his own niece died after taking the drink.
Five-year-old Hazel Mbavha consumed the soft drink suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance by Samuel Mbavha, as soon as she arrived from their fields with her sister and the targeted grandmother, Tsitsi Chekai.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Peter Zhanero confirmed the incident saying Mbavha, 26, fled after committing the crime.
"Mbavha disappeared from the scene after committing the crime. Police have since launched a manhunt for him and we promise that the long arm of the law will catch up with him," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
He said the incident happened sometime last week at Jazi Village under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi.
Police say Mbavha served the trio with the soft drink and a loaf of bread on their arrival from the fields and left on the pretext he was going to buy an air time recharge card from a neighbouring village and never returned.
"He went into the bedroom and came out holding a half full bottle of coke and a loaf of bread which he gave to Chekai and her two granddaughters. He then told them that he was proceeding to the next village to buy airtime leaving them to eat the poison-laced food," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
He said while in the process of eating and drinking, Chekai ordered the two minor girls to stop after smelling a strange odour in the food and they threw it away. "Hazel started complaining of stomach pains and frothed from the mouth before she collapsed and died on the spot," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
Mbavha's father Ganyani had remained in the fields and found his granddaughter dead while the other one, aged seven was groaning in pain.
He rushed the pair to Rutenga Clinic where they were transferred to Masvingo General Hospital. Chekai and the other girl's conditions are said to be stable while Hazel's body was taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Five-year-old Hazel Mbavha consumed the soft drink suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance by Samuel Mbavha, as soon as she arrived from their fields with her sister and the targeted grandmother, Tsitsi Chekai.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Peter Zhanero confirmed the incident saying Mbavha, 26, fled after committing the crime.
"Mbavha disappeared from the scene after committing the crime. Police have since launched a manhunt for him and we promise that the long arm of the law will catch up with him," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
He said the incident happened sometime last week at Jazi Village under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi.
"He went into the bedroom and came out holding a half full bottle of coke and a loaf of bread which he gave to Chekai and her two granddaughters. He then told them that he was proceeding to the next village to buy airtime leaving them to eat the poison-laced food," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
He said while in the process of eating and drinking, Chekai ordered the two minor girls to stop after smelling a strange odour in the food and they threw it away. "Hazel started complaining of stomach pains and frothed from the mouth before she collapsed and died on the spot," Chief Insp Zhanero said.
Mbavha's father Ganyani had remained in the fields and found his granddaughter dead while the other one, aged seven was groaning in pain.
He rushed the pair to Rutenga Clinic where they were transferred to Masvingo General Hospital. Chekai and the other girl's conditions are said to be stable while Hazel's body was taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Source - Chronicle
