One male inmate at the Kalomo correctional facility has died and three others admitted at the Request Muntanga Level one hospital after consuming a brew suspected to be a combination of methylated spirit and other ingredients commonly known as ‘Chijabu’.

Southern province Police Commissioner, Auxensio Daka confirmed the development and named the deceased as Okifa Kabanga 30, who was serving  a three year sentence for robbery.

The incident is reported to have occurred on Sunday,May 26, 2024  around 01.00 hours at the facility holding cells.

Mr  Daka states that preliminary investigations revealed that the now deceased was doing manual work of collecting pit sand along the Ngoma dam,  a few kilometres away from the correctional facility together with other fellow inmates when he shared the illicit brew with the other three who are now admitted to hospital.

The body of the deceased has since been deposited in the Kalomo urban clinic mortuary while a check at the hospital by ZANIS found the three named admitted inmates in a stable and conscious condition.

Police have ruled out foul play over the incident as an inspection of the deceased’s body had no physical injuries.