SIPHOCOSINI – An alleged bitter land dispute between a Dlamini family and another family is alleged to be behind the poisoning of emahewu, which claimed the life of a three-year-old child.
Emahewu is a traditional, non-alcoholic fermented maize or sorghum drink popular in Eswatini. It can also be bought ready-made in supermarkets.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Siphocosini, under Chief Jabhane. The deceased’s 27-year-old mother and her eldest son, aged eight, are currently hospitalised at the Mbabane Government Hospital after consuming the poisoned brew.
They were rushed to hospital by paramedics following the swift intervention of the mother’s father, Mandla Dlamini, who is a traditional healer.
Speaking to this publication yesterday from her hospital bed, the mother, who had since been stabilised and was showing signs of recovery when this publication visited her, alleged that the intended target was her father, who does not consume emahewu on medical grounds.
The unknown woman, believed to be in her 50s, is said to have disguised herself as someone seeking traditional medical assistance from the child’s grandfather. Narrating the ordeal, the mother said she was outside doing laundry with her sister-in-law when her children were given the traditional drink by their grandfather. Seeing them drinking it, she also asked for a sip. After taking her first mouthful, she noticed an unusual taste, prompting her to check the expiry date as her tongue suddenly felt dry. Within moments, she said she began feeling unusually hot and started sweating heavily. Her vision became blurred and she felt dizzy. Fearing the worst, she instructed her sister-in-law to alert her father, who rushed to the scene.
Dlamini, who also recounted the incident, said he rushed outside, only to find his daughter staggering while white foam formed around her mouth.
“We tried to calm her down to prevent possible self-harm while arranging for help. However, she then collapsed while writhing in pain,” said Dlamini.
He said while the family’s attention was focused on his daughter, they remembered that the children had also consumed the brew and rushed to check on them. An emotionally overwhelmed Dlamini said they found the youngest child lying on the ground unconscious, though still breathing.
The eldest child, meanwhile, was reportedly still standing, although he was visibly in pain.
Traditional treatment
Dlamini confirmed that the woman had visited him seeking traditional treatment, complaining of waist and womb complications.
He said he agreed to assist her upon payment of E1 000. However, the woman reportedly told him she did not have the money at the time and would arrange for someone to give it to him.
“I told her I could only assist after receiving payment. She then promised to return the following day with the money. Before leaving, she handed me the bottle of emahewu, saying it was a gesture of appreciation because I had treated her well,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini said because he was currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, medical practitioners had advised him not to consume the sour emahewu. He, therefore, gave the drink to his two grandsons, who were playing outside the family yard. “I was the intended target and I believe this is linked to the ongoing land dispute I have with another family in the area. The dispute has persisted for some time now and it is heartbreaking that my grandson has now died for nothing,” alleged Dlamini.
He said the dispute had even drawn the attention of the police after another family laid claim to what he described as his ancestral land, which his parents acquired from the umphakatsi in the 1950s after following all customary procedures associated with kukhonta.
Dlamini said it was surprising that his family was now being told to vacate land they had occupied for more than 50 years. He questioned where the claimants had been all those years before suddenly asserting ownership.
Asked whether he knew the woman, Dlamini said he had never seen her before and described her behaviour as suspicious from the moment she arrived.
“The woman appeared suspicious from the moment we began talking. When I asked for her surname, she told me she was a Simelane. However, after the incident, my children searched her phone number on Truecaller and it reflected a different surname,” recalled Dlamini.
His daughter also maintained that her father was the intended victim and alleged that those behind the plot wanted him dead because they viewed him as the main obstacle to acquiring the disputed land.
Meanwhile, Dlamini’s daughter has regained consciousness and speech after being admitted in a critical condition. She said she had temporarily lost both her speech and eyesight.
Her eight-year-old son is also recovering, although she said he had not yet regained his speech.
Police issue public appeal
Meanwhile, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has issued a public notice appealing for assistance in locating Gcebile Gama, who has since become a person of interest in connection with the death of the minor and the attempted murder of Dlamini’s daughter and grandson. Police have identified Gama as a person of interest to assist in the investigations and appealed to anyone with information regarding her whereabouts, or information that could lead to her whereabouts, to contact the nearest police station.
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