Sweet beer nearly kills 110 in Mzimba

Over 110 people could have died Friday after drinking sweet beer called Muthibi at a so called ‘Chisiki’ social function in Luviri, Mzimba. Several people started purging after drinking what is suspected to have been sweet beer laced with poison. They were rushed and admitted to Mzimba District Hospital for emergency treatment. The incident took place in Jelemani Village, Inkosi Mzikubola, in Mzimba. Mzimba Police detective officer Doctor Nhlane said no arrest has been made so far pending laboratory results from Lilongwe. The visiting party from Kwakasokola Banda Village carried over 30 calabashes of sweet beer. An alleged brewer of the beer (name withheld), from Jelemani Village, said she was as shocked as everyone when hospital authorities told her that the sweet beer contained poison. There was pandemonium in the village when whoever drunk the brew started purging uncontrollably. The victims were rushed to hospital by legislator for Mzimba South, Paul Shaba and the police. Meanwhile, 73 of the victims have been discharged from the hospital.