Mozambique: Reality check as 35 die in Muecate, Nampula – Watch

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Mozambique: Reality check as 35 die in Muecate, Nampula – Watch

4:01 CAT | 09 Mar 2021

Photo: TVM

Thirty-five people, 25 of them belonging to the same family, have died in Muecate district, Nampula province.

The cause of death is still undetermined, but the possibility that the individuals concerned died of hunger cannot be overruled in a province where instances of citizens eating wild fruits, tubers and even wild grass [capim] have been reported.

According to the TVM report below, after grinding and crushing this wild grass [capim] with a mortar and pestle, the ‘ground wild grass’ flour is said to be used to cook ‘xima’ [traditional Mozambican porridge, usually made with ground corn flour] and it is suspected that it might be poisonous. Nacaroa administrator speaks at this meeting about how she felt unwell after eating a dish made of this “farelo” [flour] during a visit to a community.

The information surfaced during the Extraordinary Session of the Provincial Council for Nutritional Security.

Food insecurity in Nampula province is attributed to low rainfall. Only five of the province’s 23 districts have seen the occurrence of normal rain, namely: Malema, Ribaue, Lalaua, Mecuburi and Morrupula.