61-yr-old woman falls to death from fruit tree

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A 61-YEAR-OLD Binga woman died after she fell from a busikka tree while harvesting fruits.

Busikka, also known as umpapanyuka, is a common indigenous fruit in Binga and is widely sold along the highway and at vending markets in Victoria Falls and Hwange.

It has a sour taste and communities in Binga either eat the pods or soak it in water which they use to make porridge as it is believed to be medicinal.

Sophia Mudimba of Nampande village under Chief Sinakoma died last Wednesday before she could reach Nsenga Clinic for treatment.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed Mudimba’s death and said no foul play was suspected.“On 25 August at around 11am, and at Nampande village, Nsenga area, Mudimba was in the company of Ms Rebecca Muleya (63) and a male juvenile aged 13. The three went to a nearby bush intending to harvest traditional fruits known in Binga as busikka,” he said.

He said the three climbed a busikka tree to harvest the fruits and in the process, Mudimba allegedly fell from the top of the tree.

Mrs Muleya sent the boy to call other neighbours who rushed Mudimba to Nsenga Clinic but she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police attended the scene and treated the matter as sudden death.

Binga resident magistrate Mr Urgent Vundla waived postmortem as no foul play was suspected.-@ncubeleon