Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
Police in Bulawayo have confirmed the sudden death of a 16-year-old girl from Nguboyenja who consumed a poisonous insecticide after reportedly failing her 2025 Ordinary Level examinations.
According to a statement released by the Bulawayo Province Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector N. Msebele, the incident occurred on the evening of January 16. The teenager is said to have checked her results on the ZIMSEC portal around 9:30 PM and became “devastated” upon discovering she had passed only two out of seven subjects.
“After a while she calmed down, rushed to the kitchen where she took Dichlorvos Insecticide inside a cupboard which was bought for killing cockroaches and drank it,” Inspector Msebele stated.
The act was witnessed by one of her cousins, who raised the alarm and attempted to snatch the poison. Family members administered immediate first aid, including milk and charcoal, before rushing her to Mpilo Hospital. Sadly, she succumbed while admitted.
In the wake of the tragedy, police have issued a dual appeal.
“We urge young people to always speak out to parents, teachers, counsellors or close friends whenever they feel overwhelmed emotionally as taking their own lives isn’t a solution,” the Inspector’s statement read.
The statement also cautioned parents and guardians:
“We also urge parents not to keep pesticides, poisons or toxic chemicals within reach of children.”
The community of Nguboyenja is in mourning as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death continue.
The incident has sparked renewed conversations about mental health support for youths, academic pressure, and the safe storage of hazardous substances in homes.
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