Grade 7 pupil hangs self in Bulawayo

By Oswell Moyo

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy from Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his mother’s bedroom with a scarf over yet to be disclosed reasons on Sunday.

Ferdinand Makonye, a Grade Seven pupil at Senzangakhona Primary School in the same suburb, was found dead in the room by his aunt, Mercy Faranai, who had come from a church service at around 1PM.

When a Chronicle news crew visited the family home at house number 1402, the boy’s body was still tied to a burglar bar with a scarf.

Faranai could not respond to questions as she continuously wept.

However, a tenant at the house said Ferdinand was left alone in the house by Mercy around 10AM.

“We all went to church leaving the boy alone. When Mercy arrived at about 1PM she went to the bedroom and called Fed twice but got no response,” said the tenant who requested anonymity.

“She then went close to him and noticed that Fed had hanged himself.”

The tenant said Faranai came to her screaming and wailing that Fed had taken his life.

“When I went into the bedroom, Fed was hanging with his foot on top of the bed while his neck was tilted towards the curtain. He used a blue scarf to hang himself,” said the tenant.

The tenant could not explain the circumstances leading to the boy’s death.

A neighbour who declined to be named said Ferdinand was a happy boy who used to play with other children.

“I’m shocked and surprised by this incident. The distance between the ground and the burglar bar where he is supposed to have hanged himself is very short. He was a bit taller,” said the neighbour.

Ferdinand’s mother is reported to have visited her husband in Maphisa on Monday last week leaving the children under the care of Faranai and Ferdinand’s elder brother.

Scores of residents including Senzangakhona school teachers had yesterday started arriving at the family home to pass their condolences.

Police took the body to a city hospital mortuary.

This is not the first time that a pupil at Senzangakhona Primary School, situated in Emganwini, has “committed suicide”.

In August this year, 10-year-old Zwivhuya Buhle Mlaudzi was found hanging from a tree at her family home. The Chronicle