A 15-year-old girl from Riverside, Bulawayo, has died by suicide after reportedly consuming poison following an argument with her mother over the sale of her laptop.
The deceased has been identified as Sharazel Angel Dawson.
Bulawayo Acting Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident, stating that police are investigating a case of sudden death.
“On 16th December 2024, at around 5:30 PM, the deceased and her mother had an argument after the mother decided to sell her Acer laptop. The deceased became upset and verbally threatened to end her life,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele.
At approximately 6 PM, the deceased’s six-year-old cousin alerted the mother that she had seen Sharazel drinking a substance. Acting on the tip-off, the mother checked the kitchen cabinet, where pesticides were kept, and detected the smell of insecticide.
“She followed the deceased and found her convulsing. In a bid to save her, she gave her charcoal to chew as first aid, but this did not help. The mother then hired a taxi and rushed the girl to Mater Dei Hospital, where she was admitted upon arrival but sadly passed away shortly after,” Assistant Inspector Msebele said.
A police report was subsequently filed.
Assistant Inspector Msebele urged parents to be vigilant and proactive in addressing issues with their children, emphasizing the importance of detecting and resolving problems early.
“Children nowadays tend to make hasty decisions when upset, without considering the consequences of their actions,” she said.
