Kavango East governor calls for food inspections as region records 26 deaths
Devastating to lose children in this manner
Leaders called upon to play an active role in educating communities about safe preparation of cassava and other indigenous plants that can be hazardous if not handled correctly.
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka has called on authorities to intensify food inspections after the region recorded 26 deaths from suspected poisoning in the past two years.
The latest victims of suspected food poisoning are two children from Korokoko village, Ndiyona Constituency, who died over the weekend.
The children and other family members fell ill after eating a meal prepared from cassava roots.
The victims, aged three and four, began vomiting on Saturday evening, along with an adult.
The children died at home just after midnight, while three others were admitted to Nyangana District Hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
Contaminated or poorly prepared food
Hambyuka expressed deep concern over the continued loss of life due to contaminated or poorly prepared food during a press briefing in Rundu yesterday.
According to Hambyuka, preliminary investigations suggest that one of the victim's mother prepared the cassava, which is known to be toxic if not properly processed.
Hambyuka said the death of the children brings the total number of deaths due to suspected food poisoning in the region to 26.
“It is devastating to lose children in this manner. These are lives that could have contributed to the future of our country,” Hambyuka said.
The governor said the continued recurrence of these incidents is unacceptable.
“I am urging communities to exercise caution, avoid consuming suspicious food items, and report any symptoms immediately to nearby health facilities.”
Delayed or never released cause of death
He cited earlier cases, including the deaths of three minors after consuming mutate, porridge and milk in Livayi village in February 2024 and the death of three-year-old Helena Maliro in June of that same year.
In both incidents, official reports on the cause of death were either delayed or never released, prompting criticism from affected families and the broader community.
Last year, an investigation by NMH highlighted that many cases of food poisoning, especially those involving cassava, remain unresolved, with no official findings publicly shared.
Hambyuka acknowledged the lack of institutional capacity to address the crisis effectively but appealed to the health ministry to strengthen oversight mechanisms, particularly in rural areas.
He also requested the deployment of additional health inspectors to monitor the sale of expired and potentially hazardous food.
“Health inspectors must ensure that unsafe products are removed from circulation,” he said. “We cannot afford to treat this as a seasonal or isolated issue anymore.”
Safe food preparation
He further urged traditional and political leaders to play an active role in educating communities about safe food preparation, particularly with cassava and other indigenous plants that can be hazardous if not handled correctly.
The governor said his office remains open to anyone willing to share information that could assist police in identifying the root cause of the latest incident.
Meanwhile, the bereaved family is receiving psychosocial support from the health ministry’s social workers stationed at Nyangana Hospital.
The latest victims of suspected food poisoning are two children from Korokoko village, Ndiyona Constituency, who died over the weekend.
The children and other family members fell ill after eating a meal prepared from cassava roots.
The victims, aged three and four, began vomiting on Saturday evening, along with an adult.
The children died at home just after midnight, while three others were admitted to Nyangana District Hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
Contaminated or poorly prepared food
Hambyuka expressed deep concern over the continued loss of life due to contaminated or poorly prepared food during a press briefing in Rundu yesterday.
According to Hambyuka, preliminary investigations suggest that one of the victim's mother prepared the cassava, which is known to be toxic if not properly processed.
Hambyuka said the death of the children brings the total number of deaths due to suspected food poisoning in the region to 26.
“It is devastating to lose children in this manner. These are lives that could have contributed to the future of our country,” Hambyuka said.
The governor said the continued recurrence of these incidents is unacceptable.
“I am urging communities to exercise caution, avoid consuming suspicious food items, and report any symptoms immediately to nearby health facilities.”
Delayed or never released cause of death
He cited earlier cases, including the deaths of three minors after consuming mutate, porridge and milk in Livayi village in February 2024 and the death of three-year-old Helena Maliro in June of that same year.
In both incidents, official reports on the cause of death were either delayed or never released, prompting criticism from affected families and the broader community.
Last year, an investigation by NMH highlighted that many cases of food poisoning, especially those involving cassava, remain unresolved, with no official findings publicly shared.
Hambyuka acknowledged the lack of institutional capacity to address the crisis effectively but appealed to the health ministry to strengthen oversight mechanisms, particularly in rural areas.
He also requested the deployment of additional health inspectors to monitor the sale of expired and potentially hazardous food.
“Health inspectors must ensure that unsafe products are removed from circulation,” he said. “We cannot afford to treat this as a seasonal or isolated issue anymore.”
Safe food preparation
He further urged traditional and political leaders to play an active role in educating communities about safe food preparation, particularly with cassava and other indigenous plants that can be hazardous if not handled correctly.
The governor said his office remains open to anyone willing to share information that could assist police in identifying the root cause of the latest incident.
Meanwhile, the bereaved family is receiving psychosocial support from the health ministry’s social workers stationed at Nyangana Hospital.
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