Four people of Mitete District in Western Province have died after taking alcohol suspected to have been mixed with methylated spirit.
Zambia Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga has confirmed to ZANIS in Lukulu District that the incident occurred between 4th June and 5th June 2024 at Masambo village of Mitete district.
Mr Hamoonga identified the deceased as Kasekele Kakoma aged 40, Masuwa Mutelo 39, Chihunji Muchapa 45 all of Masambo area and Mukamba Silumesi 27 who died on the way to Chitokoloki Mission Hospital in Zambezi district.
Mr Hamoonga said seven others were taken to Chitokoloki Mission Hospital and Mitete clinic for medical attention and their conditions are currently stable.
“Lukulu Police Station received a report of suspected poisoning which occurred between 4th and 5th June, 20240 at 09:00 hours and at Masombo village of Mitete District, where Kutemba Kaumba, Councillor for Lungwevungu Ward in Mitete District had reported that three people had died after taking some beer from the house of Chilwizhi Musoka of the same area, the fourth one died on his way to Chitokoloki Mission Hospital”, he stated.
Mr Hamoonga added that before they died, the four deceased complained of numbness from the waist to the feet and loss of eye sight and later died at different times.
Mr Hamoonga disclosed that post-mortem has since been conducted on the named four bodies and that all the internal organs were clean and intact.
He further stated that samples of urine and liver of the deceased were collected and taken to Lukulu District Hospital laboratory where they are currently stored awaiting conveyance to Chemistry Unit Food and Drugs at University Teaching Hospital for toxicology analysis to ascertain the cause of death.
