A tragic incident has occurred in Talakufa Village, Masvingo Province, where a 17-month-old girl has died after consuming a significant quantity of strong psychiatric medication that she found while her mother slept.

The child, identified as Emily Mavesere, passed away at home, just over a day after initially receiving treatment for the overdose.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, confirmed the heartbreaking event and outlined the details of the police investigation.

He stated that the incident has prompted a fresh warning to all caregivers about the dangers of leaving medicines within a child’s reach.

“The circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated, but indications are that the child might have ingested the medication while unattended,” Inspector Dhewa explained.

According to the police report, the tragedy unfolded on the afternoon of March 4, 2026.

The child’s mother, 18-year-old Loenima Ndlovu, who is mentally challenged and prescribed medication for her condition, was at home with her daughter.

Inspector Dhewa described the sequence of events that led to the overdose.

Around 1:00 PM, Ndlovu reportedly took her own daily dose of tablets before retiring to a hut for a nap, leaving little Emily to play alone outside.

During this period of unsupervised play, the toddler is believed to have accessed the medication.

Reports indicate the child ingested 11 tablets of chlorpromazine hydrochloride, a potent antipsychotic drug, and chewed them.

The consequences of the ingestion became apparent hours later.

Inspector Dhewa detailed the discovery.

When Ndlovu woke up around 5:00 PM, she found her daughter in visible distress, struggling to breathe.

He added that upon inspection, the mother also observed red stains around the child’s mouth and immediately noticed that 11 of her tablets were missing from their container.

An urgent dash was made to Chikombedzi Mission Hospital, where medical staff attended to the toddler.

“Emily was rushed to Chikombedzi Mission Hospital, where she was treated and later discharged the same day,” Inspector Dhewa confirmed.

The initial treatment appeared to have stabilized the child, allowing for her release.

However, the reprieve was tragically short-lived.

The following day, on March 5, 2026, at around 7:00 PM, the young girl’s condition deteriorated fatally at the family home, and she passed away.

Her body has since been transported to Chiredzi District Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted to officially determine the cause of death.

In the wake of this devastating loss, Inspector Dhewa has issued a strong appeal to the community.

He emphasized that this incident serves as a grim reminder of the critical need for vigilance in households, particularly those storing medication.

“We urge parents and guardians to keep all medication out of reach of children and to provide proper supervision at all times to prevent similar tragedies,” Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa urged.