POLICE HUNT STEPMOTHER AFTER TWO BROTHERS DIE

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

Police have launched a manhunt for a woman following the deaths of two brothers from Rusape who reportedly fell ill after eating ice cream and later died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare in a suspected food poisoning incident.

The victims, Emmanuel Makarimai, 14, and his younger brother, Tanaka Makarimai, 12, were pupils at Mabvazuwa Primary School, where they were enrolled in Grade Seven and Grade Five, respectively. The brothers reportedly developed severe stomach pains and began vomiting after consuming ice cream before being rushed to hospital for treatment.

Police are reportedly seeking to question their stepmother, Vimbai Mushava, who is alleged to have disappeared from Parirenyatwa Hospital before the children were admitted. The boys' father is reportedly based in Poland. Mabvazuwa Primary School headmaster Bennedict Dadaya confirmed the deaths, saying the tragedy had devastated the school community. “The elder brother was no longer attending lessons as he had completed his examinations. The Grade Five pupil last reported to school on Monday. From Tuesday onwards, he was absent, and we did not know why he was not attending school,” Dadaya said.

He said the school had received information that the children were living with their stepmother, who later travelled with them to Harare. “I am told they were staying with a stepmother. I heard she took them to Harare and that they were given a lift by another individual,” he said.

According to information relayed to the school, the children became violently ill shortly after eating ice cream. “The children ate some ice cream and started vomiting and complaining of severe stomach pains. The driver then rushed the mother and the children to Parirenyatwa Hospital,” Dadaya said.

However, the woman allegedly disappeared while they were at the hospital, leaving the driver to arrange the children's admission. “Whilst at the hospital, it is said the mother disappeared before they were admitted. The driver is the one who ended up doing the paperwork for the children to receive medical attention,” he said.

Dadaya said the deaths had left the school community heartbroken. “We are so saddened as a school to lose such young souls. We are devastated.” The circumstances surrounding the brothers' illness and deaths remain under investigation. The suspected food poisoning has not been confirmed, and the allegations concerning the stepmother have not been established. Police investigations are expected to shed further light on what happened before the children were taken to hospital.

Two brothers die in Harare