A 11-year-old female juvenile from Bulawayo’s Mabuthweni suburb allegedly committed suicide after an altercation with her mother over food.
The now deceased has been identified as Patience Happiness Chishemu.
Chishemu was a Grade 5 pupil at Mpumelelo Primary School in Mpopoma.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident saying they are investigating a case of sudden death.
“On the 6th of November 2022, Patience had a misunderstanding with her mother over why she had failed to bring her food to Mabuthweni shops where she sells gas. The mother then beat her with a cooking stick several times on her legs,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele.
She said after the incident, Patience’s mother went out leaving her alone at home.
“Around 1400 hours on the same day, the deceased’s mother was advised by children who are neighbours indicating that Patience had hanged herself with a rope underneath a short apple tree in the yard.”
Assistant Inspector Msebele said the mother rushed back home and found her daughter hanging on the tree branch.
“She tried to save life by untying her from the tree and carried her to the sitting room where she summoned an ambulance. Upon arrival the ambulance attendant noticed that the deceased had passed away.”
She urged parents to always monitor behavior change in their children and mitigate early to avoid future problems.
