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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
IN AUGUST, local football star, Philip Chandisaita committed suicide after discovering his wife’s alleged acts of infidelity, barely three days after a Chipinge money changer, Darlington Manzunzu had also ended his life in similar circumstances.
Manzunzu posted himself on social media consuming an insecticide and bidding farewell to his friends.
Chandisaita, also bade farewell to most of his friends moments before he took his life.
In September, a Chikanga-based clearing agent, Kenneth Chikomba, hanged himself from a roof truss after suspecting that his wife was having an extra-marital affair.
Chikomba chased his wife away from their lodgings after discovering a love message from her phone.
After throwing her out together with their two children, Chikomba committed suicide.
And just a fortnight ago, a 21-year-old Form Four learner, Andrew Mawone of Rusape committed suicide by hanging after being accused of stealing a colleague’s cellphone.
Teachers, fellow learners and his own parents were all convinced that he was the one who had stolen the cellphone.
More men keep committing suicide daily in the country.
The World Health Organisation statistics of 2019 show that the suicide mortality rate for Zimbabwe is 14,1 out of every 100 000 people, which show that least 14 people out of any given 100 000 population in Zimbabwe commit suicide.
Using the same statistics, the World Population Review also stated that Zimbabwe is placed at Number 34 when it comes to suicide rates in the whole world, with Lesotho leading.
At least 20 out of every 100 000 Zimbabwean men commit suicide, while only nine out of every 100 000 Zimbabwean women commit suicide according to the statistics.
The large number of men committing suicide in Zimbabwe translates to at least 3 018 each year, while women committing suicide are at 1 327, according to the statistics.
These put the country at numbers 38 and 16 respectively on the world map of suicides by gender.
The common means of suicide in the region are hanging and pesticide self-poisoning and to a lesser extent drowning, use of a firearm, jumping from a height or medication overdose.
WHO further suggests that studies show that in Africa for each completed suicide, there are an estimated 20 attempted ones.
Around 11 people per 100 000 per year die by suicide in the African region, higher than the global average of nine per 100 000 people.
This according to WHO is due in part to insufficient action to address and prevent the risk factors, including mental health conditions which currently affect 116 million people, up from 53 million in 1990.
This has prompted Government via the Zimbabwe Republic Police and relevant ministries to invest significantly in tackling the country’s growing burden of suicide in men by conducting massive awareness campaigns and public outreach programmes.
In an interview as the police conducted one of their awareness campaigns last week on Wednesday, Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Commissioner Priscilla Makotose said men face mental health conditions and issues that include anxiety disorders, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
She said as a result, they face stigma, discrimination and violation of their human rights in some instanced, thereby forcing them to end their own lives prematurely.
“In Zimbabwe, the growing number of suicide among men is caused by infidelity of partners as well as men falling prey to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) while lacking structures that can help them face the mental illness that comes with such happenings.
“Men continue to take their own lives due to mental issues like depression and a lot still needs to be done, a reason why as the police are knocking on their doors and raising awareness on the issues,” she said.
The police crews are targeting areas like bars and betting shops that are mostly frequented by men and conducting their awareness campaigns.
Commissioner Makotose advised men that it is not a crime to have a mental condition or to be a gender-based violence victim, while urging them to seek medical as well as legal services, respectively.
“Some male victims of partner infidelity and domestic violence have been taunted and mocked by acquaintances for not standing up to their perpetrators and they can face disbelief when they tell their stories.
“This leaves them fighting mental illness and depression. As a last solution, they take their own lives because they would have failed to get counselling. As a result, suicide cases of men in abusive relationships continue rising,” said Commissioner Makotose.
In different interviews, men lamented lack of access to the same level of basic community empathy, sympathy or support that women typically receive by nature of their gender.
Others cried foul while accusing women of no longer respecting family values and cheating on their husbands.
Mr Milton Gore said the reason why many men end up taking their own lives is that society frowns upon perceived weak men who fail to take care of their families or are challenged by their wives.
“These women no longer respect their husbands and cheat on them. We read a lot of stories where men find their wives in bed with other men. When you try to discuss with your friends and extended families about the issue, they laugh at you instead of offering support. Matters of the heart are really hard to deal with and sometimes you just end up taking your own life or attempting to commit suicide,” he said.
Mr Charles Chipere said high unemployment rates and growing family demands also contribute to suicides.
“There are no jobs and our families have big demands to be met by the husband. Since one will be unemployed and cannot meet up with the family’s demands, he ends up suffering from depression and having no one to air out his grievances to. Usually men in these positions end up taking their own lives as the last resort to escape from the misery,” he said.
Sakubva resident, Mr Tinotenda Mapepa said men find it difficult to open up on their social problems.
“We are therefore less likely to talk about our challenges especially domestic violence. What is happening behind closed doors is really stressful and if nothing is done, more suicides among men will continue to be recorded. The police should continue with their awareness campaigns. I believe these help in raising awareness to all victims of GBV despite their gender,” he said.
In an interview, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MoWACSMED), Community Development Coordinator for Mutasa, Mrs Janet Chimonyo said it is imperative to rope in traditional and religious leaders in the fight against suicides within men as this will help them open up.
“We have found out that there is a good number of men who are victims of mental illness caused by infidelity and gender based violence. They are embarrassed to report such cases because of cultural norms and fear of what others would say.
“Usually such men end up committing suicide. We realised that more structures need to be put in place so that we spare the lives of these men and help lessen suicide rates, while also teaching our women that they should be faithful to their husbands,” she said.
The MoWACSMED in Mutasa partnered with a faith based organisation, Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZA), and raised 27 religious leaders’ capacity in integrating GBV and fighting suicide within men in their regular preaching by training them.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti recently said suicide is a major public health problem and every death by suicide is a tragedy.
“Unfortunately, suicide prevention is rarely a priority in national health programmes. Mental health problems account for up to 11 percent of the risk factors associated with suicide,” he said.
Mr Moeti said the social media campaign WHO launched aims to reach 10 million people across the region to raise public awareness and galvanise the support of Governments and policymakers to increase focus and funding for mental health programming, including suicide prevention efforts.
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