By Beverly Bizeki
In what could be one of the most atrocious acts of murder, a 31-year-old woman from Duma, Nyika in Bikita forced her three children to drink poison, after which she committed suicide by downing the same poisonous substance.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the death of Persistence Mazhe as well as two of her children and urged members of the public to always involve third parties for mediation when solving disputes.
“We confirm the death of one Mazhe and her two children who drank poison made from an insecticide. As police we encourage disputing parties to engage third parties for mediation in resolving disputes,” said Dhewa.
Circumstances are that on May 7, 2024 and at around 0300 hours, the now deceased Mhazhe prepared an insecticide powder poison which she consumed together with her three children aged nine, six and two.
Sources said Mazhe had earlier had an argument with her 30-year-old husband Joas Taramusha after which she called him to notify him that she was traveling to their rural home in Gutu from Duma in Bikita where they stayed to commit suicide.
She phoned the husband again after a few hours and told him once again that she was going to commit suicide after which she bought a pesticide which she later used to kill her children before downing in herself.
Taramusha was later informed by his brother of what had happened; that Mazhe had passed on in her bedroom and the three children were taken to Silveira Mission Hospital.
The eldest child died upon admission at the hospital and the two-year-old died the following morning.
The surviving child (6) was still battling for life in hospital at the time of writing.
