5 arrested over ‘togwa’ calamity

Songea. Police are questioning five suspects in connection with the contaminated homemade beverage which landed over 300 people in hospital on Sunday.

Ruvuma Regional police commander Mihayo Msekhela said those being questioned included a man who hosted a party for hundreds of people in Litapwasi Village, Songea District, to celebrate the confirmation of his child.

Some of the suspects were arrested at the home of a witch doctor, where they had gone to establish what went wrong during the celebrations and who was responsible.

He said about 120 people were still seriously ill in hospital after consuming the sweetened malt drink, popularly known as togwa.

Police were still looking for a sixth suspect, who was left to guard the drink while the child’s family, relatives and neighbours were in church.

“The man disappeared as guests were being served with the drink. This has aroused suspicion and we would like to hear his side of the story,” Mr Msekhela said.

A total of 340 people were rushed to various hospitals with severe abdominal pains on Sunday. Many were vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea.

Such was the scale of the calamity that a treatment centre was set up at a local primary school.

The chief physician at Peramiho Hospital, Dr Venance Mushi, said none of the 34 patients brought to the hospital on Sunday has been discharged.

His Ruvuma Regional Hospital counterpart, Dr Majuto Mlawa, said the 34 patients they had received were responding well to treatment.

Police said samples of the food and drink served during the party had been sent to the Chief Government Chemist in Dar es Salaam.

“This will establish whether there was foul play,” Mr Msekhela said.