Boy, four, is 'slowly being killed' by a MANGO-sized tumour that has left cruel locals calling him a 'monster' and saying he is cursed by an evil spirit

January 23, 2019 10:38

A four-year-old boy is slowly being killed by a football-sized tumour that his family first believed was a wart.

Simbarashe Dande is called a 'monster' and shunned by other children because of the gigantic growth.

The huge tumour, situated on his face, prevents Simbarashe from eating solid food and makes breathing difficult for him.

Doctors in Zimbabwe have said the tumour, of which type it is unknown, could kill him at any time.

Neighbours of the family, from Murewa - 47miles (75km) north east of Harare, fear Simbarashe has been cursed by an evil spirit.

They even stop their children own from approaching him.

Simbarashe's aunt, Makazvita Dande, from Coventry, said her nephew has become isolated at home and is in agonising pain.

The 37-year-old restaurant worker said: 'He's in constant pain on a daily basis, it's very distressing for him and the entire family.

'He cries at night, the pain is unbearable. The tumour will kill him. It's very difficult because his family relies on handouts from villagers, they have nothing.

'There's no healthcare system at all so the family have used oils and herbs from local healers, but they haven't made a difference.'

Maka claims the tumour originally developed from a small wart on the boy's nose around about 18 months ago.

She said: 'It started out as a small wart on the nose but it's just grown and grown. It totally dominates his face and it's very upsetting to see.

'He eats from a small gap in the left-hand side of his mouth but can only eat fluids, so he's started to lose weight.'

Maka said doctors have so far been unable to treat him, meaning Simbarashe's condition will continue to worsen.

His family are raising money via GoFundMe for him to travel to South Africa for life-saving surgery that will remove the tumour.

Maka added some villagers believe Simbarashe is the victim of a voodoo curse.

She said: 'The other villagers think that someone put an evil spirit on him and that he's the victim of witchcraft.

'He sees traditional healers and they use herbs but obviously it makes no difference. They just use painkillers but only when we send them.

'Some people feel sorry for him but lots of people are afraid and think that the tumour could infect them. He's very, very isolated.'

Speaking from Zimbabwe, his heartbroken father Thompson Musiiwa, 48, added: 'We've had no help. The doctor's have just left him to die.'

The family live in a remote part of Zimbabwe and have no income. They also have three other children to look after, according to their fundraising page.