A girl (3) died in the Kavango East region on Tuesday, while the rest of her family has been hospitalised with suspected food poisoning.
Kavango East regional crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Bonifasius Kanyetu has confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.
Ndonga Linena constituency councillor Michael Kampota says the incident happened at Modern village, also known as Bagidadi.
The family of six is suspected to have been poisoned after preparing traditional cassava roots (Muanza) as a gravy on Tuesday.
The roots were from a tree uprooted at a family member’s home to make way for the construction of a house.
The family usually uses the leaves of the tree to prepare a relish.
The affected family members include two women aged 60 and 22, three boys aged 10, seven and four, and a three-year-old girl.
The family were rushed to Nyangana District Hospital for treatment on Tuesday after they started vomiting.
The girl died on arrival at the hospital, while the other five family members were transferred to the Rundu State Hospital, where they are currently still receiving treatment.
“It is the first time this terrible incident is happening in this jurisdiction compared to another incident years back at Karukuta village, which was minor and no one was admitted to the hospital,” says Kampota.
Kampota has further urged community members not eat anything they are not sure is meant for human consumption as it may put their lives at risk.
He says burial arrangement have not yet been confirmed and called on those willing to assist the family to do so.
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