A funeral turned into a battlefield on Sunday, when hundreds of people were treated for suspected food poisoning at the Donald Frazer Hospital. By Sunday, nearly 150 people had been admitted to the hospital. Numerous people were treated at home, while scores were also visiting private practitioners´ surgeries in the area.

All of the people who were admitted and treated had attended the funeral service of the late Mutendi Mutshekwa, who was buried on Saturday at Tshivhilwi. Some of the people who spoke to Mirror at the hospital said they ate beef, chicken and cabbage. Even those who drank tea and some who only drank water at the funeral were also affected.

Some of the affected people, including the family members, say the problem started immediately after they had eaten the food served after the funeral. Most of the affected people, also from the other villages of Tshikambe, Malavuwe, Ha-Luvhimbi, Ha-Lambani, Mukula, Tshimutshedzi and other areas, started visiting their local clinics the following morning, Sunday June 20. They say they were vomiting, while suffering from severe headache, stomach pains and running stomachs.

Another victim, Phalanndwa Mmbengwa, said: “My problem started after I had eaten pap and beef at the funeral. I went to our local clinic at Ha-Lambani where, together with other victims, they transferred us to Donald Frazer.”

David Muvhali from Tshivhilwi said he also fell ill when he arrived home after eating beef and cabbage. At the time of going to press, Muvhali was still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Nicholus Netshithotholwe, from Tshamutshedzi, said he had attended the night vigil at the funeral on Friday night with other boys. “Before midnight, we were given tea, but we could not drink it as it smelt like disinfectant. We then only ate bread, as it did not smell,” says Netshithotholwe, who also fell ill after eating the food at the funeral the following day after the funeral.

Fulufhelo Dzivhani of Tshikambe says she was very nervous when her son, Dakalo, 9, fell ill after eating the food at the funeral.

Solomon Ravhuanzo, a community leader who communicated with the hospital for having the food tested by the health inspector, said he suspect that people who were angry that they were not given food might have poisoned it. “In these areas, there is a rule that says only relatives and family members must eat at the funeral. Most of the people are not happy with this because they contributed to the funeral,” says Ravhuanzo, while adding that results were still to be released by the health inspectors.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity from the hospital said: “We are geatly affected and shocked by the whole thing.”