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Patience Mutsiwi, Midlands Reporter
A SIX-weeks-old infant from Mtapa Suburb in Gweru died hours after being immunised against life threatening illnesses for children less than five-years-old.

According to the summary of death (form 43), Lincon Madhubeko died on Saturday morning at Gweru Provincial hospital upon admission after reacting to the immunisation drugs which include Pneumococcal injection, Rotavirus oral, and Pentavalent injection.

A brief summary of facts said the boy never suffered from stomach complaints until his death.

“He was injected with an immunisation injection of six weeks olds at Mtapa Clinic in Gweru. He started refusing to be breastfed and his legs swelled up,” reads the summary.

Lincon’s father, Morris, said his son died on Saturday morning upon being admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital after suffering pain from swollen legs.

He said he did not suspect foul play and asked the Provincial Magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, to waive postmortem.

“My child passed away due to natural causes and I suspect no foul play, therefore I apply for post mortem to be waived,” said the father.

However, Mrs Msipa refused to waive the postmortem and the body of the deceased will be taken to Bulawayo tomorrow for post mortem.

She said the cause of the infant’s death needed to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old girl allegedly drowned while swimming with two other girls in Shambanebanga River, Chief Chirumanzu area.

Pamela Machena drowned on Sunday around 4.30PM while she swam with the girls aged three and twelve.

“Her father Aleck Machena retrieved her body yesterday,” read a police report.

Mrs Msipa waived postmortem. — @patiemtsiwi.