Pastor blamed tower light suicide

Patient Sibanda Chronicle Reporter
A MAN from Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb who jumped to his death from a tower light, killed himself allegedly because a pastor accused him of stealing about $2,000 and cell phones.

Tshuma committed suicide on Tuesday night by throwing himself headlong from a 30-metre tower light as residents watched in horror.

Sources said Tshuma became stressed after the pastor, identified only as Sibanda and who is his next door neighbour, reported him to the police.

They said Sibanda formed his own church called Revelation after he left the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Tshuma apparently told friends he was worried about Sibanda’s accusations as they tarnished his image.

“Boys in the area ganged up yesterday to beat up the pastor after Shorty’s death as they believed he drove him to kill himself,” said a source.

Neighbours said Tshuma was a good man who knew how to relate with people in the suburb.

They said Tshuma used to help them by installing satellite dishes and repairing electrical gadgets.

A neighbour told The Chronicle Tshuma said what he was going through was too much for him to handle.

“He used to come to my house to help me with the DSTV connection. He told me that what the pastor claimed he had done was not true. He said it pained him to be called a thief over something he had not done,” said the neighbour.

Neighbours said Sibanda has not been seen at Tshuma’s funeral wake.

Angry members of Tshuma’s family yesterday barred The Chronicle from entering Sibanda’s home for an interview.

“Why are you looking for Sibanda? He will lie to you. We know he phoned you. He is the one responsible for our son’s suicide,” said a woman.

A rowdy crowd gathered and threatened to assault the news crew if they proceeded with the interview.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed Sibanda reported Tshuma for theft.

“We received a report from the pastor. A man was picked as a suspect by the police. After investigations he was cleared of the charges. The police investigations have nothing to do with the man’s suicide,” said Insp Simango.