The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
A 35-YEAR-OLD Rusape man invited his 15-year-old son for a walk and site seeing at Rusape Dam before throwing himself in the dam while the latter helplessly watched last week on Saturday.
Police confirmed the death of Ben Machaka who committed suicide by throwing himself into the dam.
Machaka died a few minutes after jumping into the dam and his body was retrieved by members of the Sub Aqua Unit. According to the police, Machaka had hinted to his son – Sean – that he was contemplating committing suicide.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, said no foul play was suspected.
“Machaka asked his son to accompany him to Rusape Dam. He revealed to him that he wanted to commit suicide then threw himself into the dam moments later. The son rushed to the police to make a report. When the police arrived at the dam, Machaka had already died,” he said.
Inspector Chananda added: “We urge people to seek professional counselling or advice from others to avoid unnecessary loss of lives. It is also unfortunate that Machaka decided to cut his life short in the presence of his teenage son.”
Meanwhile, a 49-year-old Chipinge man was found hanging from a roof truss.
Inspector Chananda said Takaendesa Mapondera of Munyamana Village under Chief Musikavanhu’s area was watching television with his son before the latter retired to bed round 9pm.
Mapondera later went to bed about an hour later, but was found hanging from a roof truss in his bedroom the following day.
According to research, suicide is the 19th most common cause of death in Zimbabwe, with 1 641 people taking their own lives in 2018, about 1,3 percent of all deaths.
Suicide is linked to mental illness, in particular to depression, and can be found in both rich and poor countries.
Serious depression can be effectively controlled with modern drugs and other medical techniques, but it is necessary that those who are drifting into suicidal depression are identified and referred to competent medical practitioners or psychiatry specialists as early as possible
