The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE Sanzaguru community in Makoni was left with more questions than answers following a bizarre incident in which five schoolchildren were allegedly waylaid, injected with an unknown substance and given sweets by strangers — resulting in one of them collapsing and being rushed to hospital.
The suspects fled into nearby maize fields after the other victims from Sanzaguru Primary School screamed for help following the collapsing of their colleague.
The victim, whose identity cannot be revealed as she is still a minor, was rushed to Rusape General Hospital for admission. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon.
Makoni District Medical Officer, Dr Tendai Nyafesa, was not readily available for a comment as he was not picking up calls.
However, The Manica Post has gathered that authorities at the hospital were keen to examine the other victims.
An investigation has been launched to trace the fugitives and establish the kind of substance they administered on the children as well as their motive.
Makoni District police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean, said the pupils were returning from school when they were approached by five unknown women who allegedly told them that they wanted to vaccinate them against Covid-19. They also promised to ‘‘reward’’ the children with sweets.
The children allegedly fell for the trick and were injected with an unknown substance and given sweets, after which one of them collapsed.
“The suspects lured the kids by promising to give them sweets. The pupils were then injected with an unknown substance. The other kids then panicked and screamed for help after one of them collapsed, and the accused persons disappeared into the maize fields,” said Assistant Inspector Clean.
He said investigations are in progress to establish the kind of substance that was administered on the young girls.
“We are appealing for information leading to the arrest of the accused persons. Parents and teachers should discourage their children from entertaining and accepting gifts from strangers,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Clean said the accused person’s conduct was in violation of Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 — which makes assault with aggravated circumstance a punishable offence. Sanzaguru Primary School headmaster, Mr Maxwell Mutudza, said the school was shocked by the incident. “I have not come across the children myself. We are yet to get the other children’s versions. We are worried about the motive of these people and why they are targeting young children,” said Mr Mutudza.
