Confusion still surrounds Emganwini child’s death

By Nqobile Tshili

BULAWAYO – Confusion continues to surround circumstances leading to the death of a 10-year-old girl from Emganwini in Bulawayo found hanging from a tree, with her mother saying her death could have been an accident while she played with a piece of rope. 

Zwivhuya Buhle Mulaudzi was found hanging at her family’s home on Tuesday afternoon.

An emotional Sibusisiwe Mulaudzi told Chronicle yesterday that her daughter did not have the capacity to kill herself.

On Tuesday, she was so overcome with grief that she could not talk to the news crew.

Buhle’s aunt Pauline Tshabi said she suspected foul play in the child’s death.

Mulaudzi described her daughter as a “happy soul” who could never have hanged herself.

“She was a pathfinder at the Sabbath Day Adventist (SDA). She used to play with the rope, swinging under the tree. She loved singing and sharing scriptures during our evening devotions,” said Mulaudzi.

“To say she committed suicide pains us a lot as she was too young to do that. She was an intelligent child. She was a star who always came first at school and received several accolades. She didn’t have the mentality to kill herself,” said Mulaudzi, adding: “I am still struggling to come to grips with the tragedy. I still cannot believe my child is gone.”

Tshabi said it was difficult for the family to come to terms with Buhle’s death insisting that there could be some foul play as the tree she was found hanging on was too short.

“You also saw the distance from the tree to the ground yourself. She is the fifth and last born in her family. Her teachers came here today and they also cannot believe she is no more,” said Tshabi.

Her father said he could not talk about the issue. The Chronicle