Palapye Man Dies After Eating 'Herbal' Plant

Koketso Kgoboge | Monday August 20, 2018 13:50

The four, who are employees of a Chinese company that is constructing the Botswana Housing Corporation houses at Extension 7 in Palapye, were said to have taken the said medicine a week ago.

A colleague, Ishmael Nwako, said the four were about to knock off at around 5 pm when the deceased picked a root that was unearthed by an excavator and told the others it was a herbal root that averted bad spells. He said the other, who in a critical condition confirmed knowing the plant and its healing powers. The deceased, he said, cut a piece and chewed as the others followed suit.

Ngwako said he got a tiny bit to taste, but he instantly disliked the taste and spat out. The other two that were discharged from the hospital took a little and stopped eating. The deceased and another preceded chewing the root and shared that was left to take home for a decoction. He said the next morning on Saturday; the deceased was absent from work. The others complained of vomiting and running stomaches. Nwako said his colleagues looked tired and weak, but the other who confirmed knowing the plant, claimed that is how the medicine cleans the system.

“Nothing happened to me because I did not swallow. I even rinsed my mouth with water and spat everything out,” he said.

“We learnt that the deceased was admitted when we were about to knock off on Saturday and I encouraged the others to seek medical help because they all looked weak and indeed they went to the hospital, and two were assisted and discharged, the other was admitted. On Monday we that got an announcement that one of our colleagues was late.”

Palapye Police Station Criminal Investigation Department officer in charge, Kebonye Kodumane confirmed that they were investigating the incident. He said the alleged plant has been taken to the laboratory for testing while the corpse of the deceased  was sent for postmortem.

“We are still investigating the matter. We have interviewed others that were present when the alleged incident took place, but we have to ascertain ourselves that indeed the alleged plant is the cause of death. The body of the deceased is undergoing postmortem and will be released to the family for burial,” Kodumane said.