Online Reporter
Leot Mafukashe and Simbarashe Chitsiku
A 45-YEAR-OLD man, Lancelot Nyenze of Mahuku Village under Chief Makoni in Rusape, died yesterday in a suspected suicide by poisoning.
Acting Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said Nyenze is believed to have consumed poison at his home following a series of events that began the previous day.
On April 21, Nyenze reportedly accompanied his wife, Tomondera Nyenze (36), to an all-night prayer but left her halfway and returned home alone. After having supper with his children, Nyenze retired to bed, locked the bedroom door from the inside and played music at high volume.
The following morning, around 11am, Tomondera returned from the church service and found the bedroom door still locked from the inside. Concerned, she asked one of her children to open a window and check inside. The child reportedly saw Nyenze lying motionless on the bed, prompting his wife to alert neighbour Trust Tsikwa (28), who rushed to the scene and forcibly opened the door.
The matter was reported to Rusape Rural Police, who attended the scene and carried out preliminary investigations. They found no visible injuries on the body but observed white froth around the mouth and detected a strong smell of poison.
Police also recovered two bottles of pesticide in the room, both with some contents remaining, which are suspected to have been consumed by the deceased.
The body was subsequently taken to Rusape General Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
