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Grief settled heavily over Kabwe this week as a quiet burial brought a painful chapter to a close for a family and a community still searching for answers. In Likumbi area, Central Province, mourners gathered under sombre skies, united by shock, sorrow and a deep sense of disbelief.
The funeral followed days of anxious waiting and whispered speculation after news spread that three young children from the same household had died suddenly. What initially appeared to be an isolated tragedy soon became a matter of national concern, drawing the attention of health officials, police and faith leaders.
The deceased were three siblings: a one-year-and-two-month-old girl, a five-year-old boy and an eight-year-old boy. Their small coffins, carried side by side, were a stark reminder of lives cut short before they had barely begun.
Before the burial, a church service was held at Kabanana Main Seventh Day Adventist Church. Congregants filled the pews in silence, many struggling to hold back tears as hymns echoed through the sanctuary. Clergy members spoke of loss, faith and endurance, while family members sat visibly shaken, surrounded by relatives and neighbours.
After the service, the bodies were transported to Kabwe for burial at a family graveyard in Likumbi. The interment took place on Wednesday afternoon, away from cameras and crowds, but not from the weight of public grief that has followed the case since it emerged.
Confirming the burial, the children’s uncle, Regan Mthombeni, thanked the church and members of the public for standing with the family during what he described as an unbearable time. He said the support, prayers and practical help had offered some comfort amid overwhelming pain.
The deaths occurred on Sunday, January 4, following a family meal that has since become the focus of an ongoing investigation. According to information provided to authorities, the children had eaten nshima, pumpkin leaves—locally known as chibwabwa—and sour milk.
They were not alone.
Three other family members, including the children’s parents, ate the same meal. Unlike the children, they survived after receiving urgent medical treatment at a hospital. Their recovery raised troubling questions and intensified concern about what may have gone wrong.
As details emerged, speculation spread rapidly within the community and on social media. Many struggled to understand how a common household meal could lead to such devastating consequences, particularly when some family members survived.
Health experts caution that food-related illnesses and poisoning can affect individuals differently, especially young children whose bodies are more vulnerable. Even small amounts of toxins or contaminants can have fatal effects on infants and minors.
Authorities have been careful not to draw conclusions prematurely. Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed that investigations into the children’s deaths are ongoing, stressing that all possibilities are being considered.
Samples related to the meal are understood to have been collected for analysis, while statements have been taken from surviving family members and others who may have information relevant to the case. Police say the process is meticulous and will take time.
For residents of Likumbi and surrounding areas, the tragedy has sparked fear and reflection. Many families say they are now more cautious about food preparation and storage, while others are calling for stronger public awareness around food safety.
At the same time, there is a growing call for transparency and accountability. Community leaders have urged authorities to communicate findings clearly once investigations are complete, warning that silence could fuel rumours and misinformation.
Religious leaders have also stepped in, offering counselling and support to the affected family and neighbours. Churches across Kabwe have held prayer sessions, describing the deaths as a loss not just to one household, but to the entire community.
Despite the mourning, questions remain unanswered. How did a shared meal turn deadly for some and not others? Was contamination accidental, environmental or deliberate? Could the tragedy have been prevented?
For now, the family waits.
The burial may have brought physical closure, but emotionally, the wounds are far from healed. As the last handfuls of soil were placed on the small graves in Likumbi, mourners stood in silence, their grief compounded by uncertainty.
Only when investigators conclude their work will the country learn what truly claimed the lives of the three siblings — a revelation that now stands as the final and most painful piece of a tragedy that has shaken Kabwe and beyond.
