Venus Charumbira
Courts and Crime reporter
Bulawayo- A 54-year-old man from Old Magwegwe, Zebron Phiri, was found dead in his home on Sunday morning upon suicide as he had expressed suicidal thoughts linked to economical struggles and family neglect.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident, saying the body of the deceased was discovered hanging with a rope in his room on 17 August 2025 at around 7AM.
According to the report, on the previous afternoon, the deceased had blurt out to a 78-year-old female neighbour that he was planning to take his own life due to economic hardships and lack of support from his children.
He reportedly told her he would hang himself and leave the doors and windows open to make his body easy to find.
The neighbour returned the following morning and upon seeing the house open and receiving no response from Phiri, she alerted another resident.
The two entered the home and found his lifeless body lying on the floor, with a rope around his neck and the other handing from the truss.
The case highlights:
•The growing burden of depression and suicidal thoughts linked to economic hardship and social neglect.
•The urgent need for better access to professional psychological support, especially for vulnerable individuals.
•How lack of family support, especially from children, can severely affect the elderly.
•The need for widespread awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health and promote early intervention.
Authorities have urged the public to take suicidal statements seriously and to seek professional support for those showing signs of mental distress.
“We encourage members of the public to take seriously conversations about suicide and seek professional help for the concerned parties,” said Inspector Msebele.
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