Four-Year-Old Dies After Drinking Contaminated Thobwa in Mulanje
Published on February 17, 2026 at 9:10 AM by Evance Kapito
A four-year-old child from Chikanamba Village, Traditional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje District has died after drinking suspected contaminated thobwa made from dried cassava, while three other family members are receiving treatment at Mulanje District Hospital.
According to Peter Nason, the Mulanje District Health Promotions Officer, the affected family members developed diarrhoea, vomiting and severe abdominal pains shortly after consuming the drink.
Nason said the three survivors, aged between five and 50, remain under close medical supervision as health workers continue monitoring their condition.
In a separate but related incident, another family of five from Gladson Village under T/A Mabuka has fallen ill after eating nsima prepared from mgaiwa maize bought from an unknown source.
The incidents come barely three weeks after two other suspected food poisoning cases were reported at Thuchira Health Centre, prompting authorities to intensify public awareness on food safety.
