A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the Marange community after two young sisters died within hours of consuming vegetables believed to have been sprayed with pesticide.

The victims, identified as Mercy Murehwa (9) and Rudo Murehwa (11), reportedly fell ill on 26 October after eating vegetables harvested from a garden that had been chemically treated only days earlier.

Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, describing it as a suspected case of sudden death by poisoning.

“Preliminary findings suggest that the vegetables eaten by the minors had recently been sprayed with a pesticide,” he said.

According to police, the events trace back to 22 October, when the girls’ mother, Chipo Marange, was hired by Ms Spiwe Chinemo of Mapeta Village to water and apply pesticide to her vegetable garden. The chemical used was Imidacloprid, a commonly used insecticide.

Four days later, Chipo returned to the garden with her three children — Mercy, Rudo, and five-year-old Batsirai. During the visit, Rudo picked some vegetables, which the family later cooked for supper.

Chipo reportedly did not eat the meal, saying the portion was too small for everyone.

Trouble started the next morning when Mercy began vomiting and complained of severe stomach pains around 11 a.m. Rudo soon experienced similar symptoms later in the afternoon.

“By evening, Mercy’s condition had deteriorated. Her mother sought help from a neighbour, Ms Sheilla Marange, but the child had already died by the time they returned home,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.

“As they rushed Rudo to a nearby clinic, she also collapsed and died about a kilometre from their homestead,” he added.

The bodies were taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare for post-mortem and toxicology analysis. Samples of the vegetables and the pesticide were collected for forensic testing.

Police said Chipo admitted that she was aware the vegetables had been sprayed but allowed her children to eat them due to food shortages.

“She did not seek immediate medical help when the children first complained of pain. This is a preventable tragedy, and we are awaiting toxicology results before determining any possible legal action,” Chinyoka said.

According to The ManicaPost, the National Prosecuting Authority will decide whether to press charges against the mother once the toxicology results are released.

Police have since issued a stern warning about the improper use and storage of agricultural chemicals.

“Pesticides are extremely toxic if mishandled. Users must strictly follow manufacturer instructions and always observe the waiting period before consuming sprayed produce,” warned Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
“Even minimal residue can be dangerous, particularly to children. Farmers and households should also ensure these substances are safely stored and kept away from minors.”

The community remains in deep mourning as investigations continue into the incident that has highlighted the deadly consequences of unsafe pesticide use.

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Tshiamiso Trust to facilitate compensation for former Wenela mine workers who developed permanent disabilities from silicosis or work-related tuberculosis (TB), or for the families of those who died as a result.

This partnership stems from a landmark ruling by the South African High Court, which approved a settlement agreement between six major mining companies and lawyers representing thousands of affected miners in a historic class action case.

The companies involved in the settlement include Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Sibanye Stillwater, Harmony Gold, and African Rainbow Minerals.

The Tshiamiso Trust was established to manage and process compensation for all eligible former gold mine workers or their dependents across southern Africa.

This includes miners from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zambia who were employed in South Africa’s gold mines between March 1965 and December 2019.

Thousands of Zimbabwean ex-miners who worked under the Wenela (Witwatersrand Native Labour Association) system will now have the opportunity to undergo medical evaluations to assess their eligibility for a once-off payment.

Speaking during the signing ceremony and launch of the compensation programme, Tshiamiso Trust Chief Executive Officer Dr. Munyadziwa Kwinda said the initiative represents a major step toward justice and dignity for former mine workers.

“The collaboration between Tshiamiso Trust and NSSA ensures that eligible former miners and their families can now access compensation for lung diseases such as silicosis and work-related TB contracted while working in South African gold mines,”
said Dr. Kwinda.

“Our goal is to reach every qualifying claimant across Zimbabwe and to honour the contribution of those who helped build the mining industry.”

NSSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Charles Shava emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in protecting workers’ rights.

“Many Zimbabweans spent decades working in South Africa’s mines and returned home with illnesses that drastically changed their lives.

Through this partnership, we’re ensuring that those individuals or their families finally receive the compensation they deserve. NSSA remains committed to strengthening social security and cross-border protection for all workers in the region,” he said.

To qualify for compensation, claimants must have performed high-risk work at one of the listed gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019 and must have been diagnosed with silicosis or TB linked to their mining employment.

Those who worked for more than five years in risky conditions will receive a free Benefit Medical Examination, while those with shorter service will pay R1,900  an amount reimbursed if their claim is approved.

For deceased miners, claimants must provide evidence showing that the cause of death was related to work-induced TB or silicosis.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development (MOTID) has initiated a nationwide operation targeting overloaded trucks, beginning with the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway and other key transport routes.

In a statement released on Thursday, 30 October, the ministry emphasized that transport operators found exceeding legal axle load limits will immediately face penalties and fines in line with national transport regulations.

“This notice serves to inform all motorists and transporters that the enforcement of axle load regulations on Zimbabwe’s major highways takes effect immediately,” the ministry stated.

It further noted that Zimbabwe has made substantial investments in road development, including the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road — a project central to improving trade, tourism, and road safety.

“To safeguard these investments and ensure the sustainability of our transport infrastructure, overloading will not be tolerated,” the ministry added.

According to MOTID, the new enforcement drive extends beyond the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls route to all major highways nationwide. The ministry warned that overloaded vehicles accelerate road deterioration, causing early formation of potholes and structural damage that increase maintenance costs.

“Overloading not only shortens the lifespan of our roads but also endangers the safety of all road users. We therefore urge all transport operators and drivers to adhere to the prescribed axle load limits,” read the statement.

The ministry also confirmed that routine inspections will be conducted at checkpoints and weighbridges to monitor compliance and ensure that all vehicles meet load regulations.