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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A 62-year-old man from Dulibadzimu, here, committed suicide by slitting his own throat on Monday under unclear circumstances. Matabeleland South police spokesman Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the man had a long history of suicidal tendencies. He identified the man as Isaiah Muleya.

According to police investigations, things got to a head on Monday night when Muleya was watching television with his family.

“We have established that the now deceased had been watching one of the programmes on the family television set on Monday night with his family. He left his wife and children in the lounge indicating that he was retiring to bed,” said Insp Ndebele.

“While in his bedroom, he slit his throat with a sharp knife. He was later discovered writhing in agony in a pool of blood by his child at around 10pm who then alerted his wife.”

He said Muleya was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital by his wife with the assistance of neighbours where he was immediately referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals, but died on the way.

Insp Ndebele said Muleya’s body had been taken to Gwanda provincial mortuary for post-mortem.
He said police were worried at the rate at which people were taking their own lives around the province.

“This is a very unfortunate incident where his (Muleya) family knew he had some issues and would on several occasions threaten to take his own life. It was going to be wise had they enlisted the services of a trained counsellor to address some of the issues.

“As police we want to urge members of the public to always seek the services of counsellors or third parties rather than resorting to violence or taking their own lives,” he said.

The incident occurred a few hours after a 34-year-old man from the same town was fatally stabbed by his 23 year old wife whom he had accused of having an extra marital affair.

Early this month a 61-year-old man from Tuli area committed suicide by hanging himself from the roof of his hut for fear of persecution for charges of unlawful entry and rape.