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Freeman Razemba

Crime Reporter

An 18-year-old sixth former at Zimbabwe Republic Police High School in Hatcliffe, Harare, committed suicide on Monday and left behind a suicide note.

Police are now investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Prince Tawonezvi who reportedly hanged himself at around 5pm in one of the dormitories under construction at the school. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police had found a note in one of the learner’s pockets.

Police could not disclose to the public the details in the suicide note but would engage the boy’s family.

“The student allegedly committed suicide in circumstances which are now subject to investigations. The Zimbabwe Republic Police expresses condolence to the Tawonezvi family and students at the school,” he said.

Suicides are rising in number. A Form One pupil at a private school in Luveve, Bulawayo, on Sunday committed suicide by hanging in the presence of her 8-year-old sister. The girl hanged herself in her bedroom at around 7pm while her younger sister watched helplessly.

The motive for the suicide could not be ascertained as the girl did not leave a suicide note nor did she tell anyone if she had any challenges.

Besides the teenage suicides there have also been suicides related to unhappy marriages, along with killings from the same cause over the past few months.

Police are on record urging people to engage third parties, elders, counsellors and their officers, to help resolve their differences.

Recent World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that suicide cases are now scaring globally.

Suicide is defined as the act of killing one’s self intentionally.

Suicide is usually a result of depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, multiple personality disorder and a whole lot of other mental illnesses, all leading to the severe depression that terminates in self-inflicted death. Depression is now regarded as one of the major causes of death of teenagers and young adults because of the suicide statistics. While those drifting towards suicide often do not open up in time, in many instances, people with foiled suicide attempts begin to open up on why they wanted to commit suicide, it’s a sign they are on the road to recovery against the severe mental illnesses.

Suicides are often attributed to marital or relationship problems while to some students, academic pressures can be factored in.

Up to 800 000 people reportedly die from suicide each year globally and men are three times as likely to die by suicide compared to women.