LUNDAZI MAN TAKES OWN LIFE BY DRINKING MAIZE PRESERVATIVES
A 40-year-old man in Lundazi district in Eastern Province, has committed suicide by taking aluminum phosphide, a poisonous tablet used for preserving maize grain.
David Phiri of Chinyumba compound in Chief Mphamba’s area died between 30th December and 31st December 2023.
ZANIS reports that Eastern Province Police Commissioner Limpo Liywalii has confirmed the incident in a statement.
Mr. Liywalii said police received a report from 28-year-old Racheal Banda of the same compound that her cousin David Phiri committed suicide in his house.
He said brief facts are that Phiri had been on separation with his wife for the past one month due to his excessive alcohol intake.
Mr. Liywalii explained that on 30th December around 15:00 hours, Phiri went to drink and at around 20:00 hours whilst in a drunken state, went to his named cousin’s place for supper, after which he proceeded to his house to sleep.
He said the next day Phiri was seen lying on the floor through a bedroom window by his cousin who went to check on him.
When the said cousin tried to knock on the door which was locked from the inside, the deceased could not respond prompting Ms Banda to report the matter to the police.
The Eastern Province Police Chief said upon receiving the report, police rushed to the scene where they forced entry into the house and found him dead facing downwards with vomit lying on the floor.
Mr. Liywalii said police recovered a sachet of 10 tablets used to preserve maize out of which two had been removed and suspected to have been taken by the deceased.
Meanwhile, Mr Liywalii said the body of the deceased had been picked and deposited in Lundazi District Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
ZANIS