Three die after drinking traditional medicine in Tanganyika District

THREE people from Senta ya Maradona area at Kabange Village in the newly-established Tanganyika District, Katavi Region, died on the spot in the house of a traditional healer, Msajigwa Jaheda (55), after drinking a concoction of traditional medication meant for treating stomach diseases.

Two of the deceased persons are daughters-in-law of the traditional healer. Katavi Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Damas Nyanda, named the three dead persons as Kabula Joseph (23) and Idulu Masanja (30), wives of the younger and elder sons of Jaheda.

The other one was identified as Idulu Masanja (30). The RPC said that the incident occurred on October 13 at around 10:00 pm at Senta ya Maradona at Kabange Village, Sibwesa Ward in Tanganyika District in Katavi Region.

According to the RPC, police have mounted a manhunt for the suspect who fled from the scene of incident shortly after he committed the crime. “When we searched his house, we found several government trophies and different witchcraft-related paraphernalia,” added the RPC.

Acting Mpanda Municipal Medical Officer, Dr Mohamed Mpunja, who went to the scene of the incident, said postmortem reports showed that deaths of the three people were caused by drinking a traditional medicine concoction known as ‘nyungu’. Narrating the macabre incident, Dr Mpunja said that on the material night, the trio died on the spot after drinking traditional medication given by traditional healer, Jaheda, at his house.

It was further alleged that the traditional healer gave medication to “clean-up” the stomach of his daughter-in-law, Kabula who shortly afterwards started vomiting until she died. “He gave the same medication to his other daughter-in-law, Ndalo, who experienced severe diarrhoea until she died,’’ added Dr Mpunja.

According to him, the third person, Masanja, who was suffering from hernia, died on the spot after drinking ‘nyungu’. Reports from the scene of incident had it that Masanja went to Senta ya Maradona area to mourn one of his close relatives who passed away two days ago; but before he left for his village, went to seek treatment for hernia from Jaheda.

Dr Mpunga confirmed that Jehada was treating patients without having any legal permit. He urged residents in the region to seek treatment provided by health facilities once they fall sick.