Grade 7 pupil squanders trip money, commits suicide

By Munyaradzi Musiiwa

A 12-YEAR-OLD Grade Seven pupil committed suicide by hanging after he squandered money for a school trip which had been donated to him by a church, police have confirmed.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident which occurred on Tuesday last week at about 5.30 pm when Timothy Mahlaba of Harben Park in Gweru hanged himself at a nearby bush after his grandfather and namesake asked him about the money he received from church for a school trip.

It is understood that Timothy received money from a Pastor Moyo of Blessed Hope Ministries so that he would pay for his school trip at Thornhill Airbase Primary School in Gweru.

Timothy took the money and bought new clothes.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a sudden death case where a Grade Seven pupil committed suicide on 17 November at about 5.30 pm in Harben Park following a misunderstanding with his grandfather,” said Insp Goko.

When Timothy got home, his grandfather, Mr Mahlaba (68), whom he was staying with, asked him about the money. He admitted that he received it but told him that he had bought himself new clothes.

Timothy then left the house and went to a nearby bush where he hung himself on a tree.

“Mr Mahlaba alerted his neighbours after Timothy went missing and after a thorough search they later found him hanging from a tree at a nearby bush at around 7pm,” said Insp Goko.

In a related incident, a 35-year-old man from Mkoba Village 10 in Gweru committed suicide by downing poison at his in-laws’ house after his wife teamed up with his brother to assault him following a domestic dispute.

Ribson Nyota drank a 750 ml bottle of monocrotophos poison after his wife Bongani Mhlanga (30) teamed up with her brother Khumbulani to assault him accusing him of being promiscuous.

Insp Goko confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday last week at House Number 4258/1 Mkoba village 10 at around 11 pm.

“I can confirm that a male adult aged 36 committed suicide by drinking poison, leaving a suicide note alleging that he committed suicide after being assaulted by his wife and brother-in-law. We are still investigating the matter,” he said.

However, neighbours who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that on the fateful day, Bongani confronted Nyota and the two had an altercation. Bongani then teamed up with her brother Khumbulani to assault Nyota severely at their house in Mkoba.

Nyota was later found dead and it was alleged that he had downed poison at midnight. Sunday News