A Gweru-based Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer who recently took his own life had been chasing his sports betting dream on the popular online game Aviator, locally known as “Kandege.”
According to H-Metro, Constable Claude Jele had lost US$3,000, which he had borrowed, by the time of his death. Said a source:
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Officer vakakwereta mari ikanyudzwa nekandege. Zvavaremera kudzosa uye kuwana counseling kwakuzvitorera upenyu. (The officer borrowed money and lost it to betting. Unable to repay it and to access counseling, he ended up taking his own life.)
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Jele injected an unidentified poison shortly after penning a suicide note. In the suicidal note, Jele wrote:
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Having survived all these 38 years, I have reached a point where I feel like its all the same being on this earth or leaving. So plz do not accuse anyone or anything its my personal decision to end my life this way.
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I have chosen my own path. I know you will be hurt, but I do not see any reason to continue living—I have failed.
To Ganizani and Keisha, this will cause you pain, and I ask for your forgiveness, my children. Grow up well; I am leading the way ahead.
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To the mother of my children, I say please do not trouble yourself wondering why this happened.
I am the one who made this decision after realizing that I have failed in life and see no reason to go on.
Mai Keisha, please do not let anyone suspect or blame you for anything—they had nothing to do with what I have done. We were living perfectly fine together.
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In his suicide note, Jele included the contact information of two people he wished to be notified of his death.
Jele’s tragic death underscores the serious dangers of online gambling, particularly as people may find themselves caught in a destructive cycle of addiction, financial loss, and emotional distress.
More: <a href="https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/tragedy-over-kandege-cop-commits-suicide-after-betting-losses/">HeraldOnline</a>
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Pindula News

A police officer in Gweru, Zimbabwe, took his own life because he lost $3,000 in online sports betting and couldn't pay it back. He left a suicide note saying he felt like a failure and didn't want to continue living. The officer took a poison and left contact information for loved ones. This sad event shows the dangers of online gambling, where people can get addicted, lose money, and feel very sad. It's important to know the risks before betting online.

ZRP Officer's Suicide Linked To Betting Losses

A Gweru-based police officer, Constable Claude Jele, stationed at Development House, died at Gweru Provincial Hospital (GPH) on Sunday after he had allegedly ingested poison.
While a suicide note was found, the precise reasons behind his actions remain unclear as the note did not fully explain his motive. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Having survived all these 38 years, I have reached a point where I feel like its all the same being on this earth or leaving. So plz do not accuse anyone or anything its my personal decision to end my life this way.
I have chosen my own path. I know you will be hurt, but I do not see any reason to continue living—I have failed.
To Ganizani and Keisha, this will cause you pain, and I ask for your forgiveness, my children. Grow up well; I am leading the way ahead.
To the mother of my children, I say please do not trouble yourself wondering why this happened.
I am the one who made this decision after realizing that I have failed in life and see no reason to go on.
Mai Keisha, please do not let anyone suspect or blame you for anything—they had nothing to do with what I have done. We were living perfectly fine together.
</blockquote>
In his suicide note, Jele included the contact information of two people he wished to be notified of his death.
His sister, Siduhla Mwale, confirmed receiving a call informing her that Jele had ingested poison before his admission to GPH. She said:
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I was in Chinhoyi when I was told that my brother had been admitted to the hospital. I made plans to come and found him admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and the medical personnel were busy trying to save him.
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Mwale said she attempted to question Jele about why he consumed poison, but due to a breathing tube, he could only respond with a look. Jele’s funeral will be held in Zaka, Masvingo Province.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/gweru-police-officer-commits-suicide/">Chronicle</a>

A police officer in Gweru named Constable Claude Jele died by ingesting poison. He left a suicide note saying he felt like he failed in life and saw no reason to go on. He asked for forgiveness from his children and their mother. His sister was informed of his act and rushed to the hospital, but he couldn't explain why he did it. Jele's funeral will be in Zaka, Masvingo Province. The reasons behind his actions are still unclear.

Gweru-Based Police Officer Commits Suicide

A 13-year-old boy is accused of contaminating a river that provides water to both livestock and residents from at least five villages in Ward 7, Mutetenwa, Beitbridge, by allegedly pouring a toxic herbicide into its waters last Monday.
The specific herbicide involved is still undergoing verification by experts.
According to Nelson Mohadi, the senior village head of Mutetenwa, fish in the stream have begun to die, and a donkey that drank from the river succumbed to the poison on the same day. Said Mohadi:
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The community is in panic mode following this incident and we have since notified the police and the local Civil Protection Committee about the incident.
In the interim, we advise villagers not to drink or use the water from domestic chores until tests from the Civil Protection Committee confirm the extent of the damage.
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Kraal head Siphiwe Muleya, from the Tshambudzi area where the boy resides, said that local authorities are working with the police to determine the motive behind the incident.
She further urged all community members to rely on borehole water and refrain from fishing in the river until the situation is fully resolved. She said:
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We picked up the container of the herbicide which we have given to agriculture experts to verify and will also help in investigations.
The police are now handling the matter and the parents of the same boy have since been notified about this worrying incident.
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She said the dead fish from the river had been buried to prevent any risk of human consumption. Added Chibi:
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We are already moving around villages warning people about the danger from the herbicide that was poured into the river.
At the same time, I want to strongly encourage community members to avoid drinking water or fishing from this river until it has been confirmed to be safe by experts.
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A communal farmer in the La Tenis area, Nyelisani Sibanda, said she immediately alerted the local traditional leaders after noting the river had turned purple. She said:
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I was working in my field which is just close to the river and when I came here to get water it had turned purple.
A few minutes later some fish were dying on their own. I immediately called the local traditional leaders who then informed the rest of the community leaders about this incident. They then said that we must not drink or fetch water from the river.
We chased away some livestock that were drinking water from this point, unfortunately, one donkey died near our business centre.
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Police Officer Commanding Beitbridge District Chief Superintendent Melusi Ncube said they sent a team to investigate the matter, which is working with the Civil Protection Committee members.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/community-panics-as-boy-13-poisons-water-source-with-herbicide/">The Herald</a>

A 13-year-old boy poured poison into a river in Mutetenwa, Beitbridge, harming fish, livestock, and residents in five villages. The herbicide used is being tested by experts. Village leaders are working with the police to find out why the boy did this. They are urging people to avoid using the water until it is safe. Traditional leaders are warning the community about the danger and monitoring the situation. The police are investigating the incident to protect the people and animals that rely on the river for water.

13-Year-Old Boy Poisons River That Serves Five Villages In Beitbridge

A 37-year-old woman from Zvimba District, Mashonaland West Province, appeared before the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on Monday facing attempted murder charges.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the accused person allegedly prepared food laced with poison and gave it to her daughter to give to her peers at Matoranhimbe Primary School. Six children at the school ate the food and suffered stomach complications.
The accused person was remanded in custody on the 20th of June for bail application.
On Sunday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said eight learners fell sick on Friday after eating rice and soup at the school.
Comm Nyathi said the learners allegedly started vomiting while complaining of stomach pains after they had consumed rice and soup which had been packed in a lunch box.
They were ferried to Murombedzi Rural Hospital for treatment. He added:
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Investigations carried out by the police revealed that a fellow school pupil brought the lunch box which contained home-prepared food after being given two lunch boxes by her parent. The parent gave her instructions on how to share the food.
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Some people say parents should teach their children not to eat everywhere, and authorities should investigate possible bullying at the school, which may have led the parent to take drastic action.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zvimba Woman Faces Attempted Murder Charges For Poisoning Schoolchildren

A woman from Bikita, Masvingo Province, allegedly forced her three minor children to drink poison before taking her life following a domestic dispute.
According to <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/woman-forces-3-children-to-drink-poison-takes-her-life/">The Mirror</a>, Persistence Mazhe (31) of Duma in Nyika, Bikita took her own life at her rural home in the Zinhata area, Farm 269 in Gutu, after she had an altercation with her husband, on Monday, 06 May.
Mazhe’s husband, Joas Taramusha said she phoned him to inform him that she was travelling to their rural home to commit suicide.
Taramusha said his son aged nine died upon admission at Silveira Mission Hospital while his two siblings aged seven and three were admitted at the hospital.
He said Mazhe bought a pesticide and forced the children to drink before she consumed it as well. Said Taramusha:
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I stayed at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita with my family and I argued with my wife. She phoned me yesterday morning and informed me that she was travelling to our rural home in Gutu to commit suicide.
She phoned again after a few hours and told me that she was going to commit suicide. She bought a pesticide and forced the children to drink before she gulped it.
My brother phoned me and informed me that she had forced the children to drink the pesticide. We rushed them to Silveira Mission Hospital. My son died upon admission.
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Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Masvingo Province, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa could not readily confirm the incident.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bikita Woman Forces Her 3 Children To Drink Poison, Takes Her Own Life

A ZANU PF official in Mashonaland Central Province died last week after he reportedly gulped a poisonous substance after mistaking it for alcohol.
ZANU PF Chimurenga district chairman in Mazowe, Eddie Chanetsa died on Friday after he reportedly mistook poison for alcohol.
<a href="https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-230862.html">Bulawayo24.com</a> quoted an unnamed official as saying Chanetsa died at Howard Mission Hospital where he had been rushed after consuming the poison. Said the official:
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I can confirm a sad incident in our district where Chanetsa mistook animal chemical that he had sought from neighbours for alcohol.
He was drinking small illicit beers so he put the chemical in a bottle of beer and on his way home he drank the chemical thinking it was beer, he was rushed to Howard Hospital where he died upon admission.
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Chanetsa was expected to be buried on Sunday, 21 May 2023.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF Official Dies After Mistaking Poison For Illicit Alcohol

A priest at St Paul’s Musami High School in Murewa, Mashonaland East Province, appeared in court on Tuesday facing allegations of poisoning the school headmaster.
Ugenio Phiri allegedly laced Richard Hlombe’s tea cup with an unknown substance during a tea break while they were attending a workshop in Harare.
Phiri, who is charged with assault, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court before magistrate Munashe Chibanda. He denied the charge.
Allegations are that on 1 March 2022, Hlombe, Phiri and others were attending an educational workshop at Msasa Training Bureau.
Prosecutor Tinos Masimba further alleged that while they were queueing to have breakfast at 10 AM at the Msasa Training Bureau campus restaurant, Phiri started distributing cups to other workshop attendees.
A number of guests including Hlombe received a cup from Phiri before they went on to serve themselves.
Hlombe is said to have taken the tea but shortly afterwards, he started having stomach pain.
It is alleged that Hlombe’s situation worsened and decided to seek medication after suspecting food poisoning.
Medical tests were conducted and the medical test results showed that the level of cyanide in his body was increasing.
Hlombe told the court that Phiri had been fighting him because he has problems with a non-Catholic person heading the school.
However, Phiri denied the allegations and said he was never in possession of any form of poison which would have enabled him to commit the alleged crime.
Phiri claimed that Hlombe raised the allegations in an attempt to pre-empt some serious administrative issues that he raised against him.
Phiri is expected to be back in court on 27 September for the continuation of the trial. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/priest-accused-of-poisoning-headmaster/">The Herald</a>

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