As the world marks International Men’s Day, stakeholders in Bulawayo are sounding the alarm on the rising cases of male suicide, urging a comprehensive, community-driven approach to mental health.
This comes after a tragic incident on November 16, 2024, in Magwegwe, where 25-year-old Agreement Wellington Nyangali took his life following a domestic dispute.
According to a recent report by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the city has recorded a 30% spike in male suicide cases over the past three months, with more cases still being recorded.
The founder of Mental Voices, Sipho Mazibuko, described gender-based violence (GBV) against men as a growing crisis, noting that cultural norms often deter men from expressing vulnerability.
“Men are conditioned from a young age to suppress their emotions, which often leads to devastating consequences,” said Mazibuko. “We need to create safe spaces for men to share their struggles, whether through conversations in WhatsApp groups, community posters, or direct outreach.”
Mazibuko said the organisation provides access to free mental health services, including psychologists and psychiatrists. “Men need to know they are not alone. There is help available, and reaching out can save lives.”
She also shared her struggles with mental health, urging people to speak out when they have problems.
“Being a public figure, I feared judgment and ridicule, but speaking out is the first step toward healing.”
Clinical psychologist Barbara Silumbu advocated for a holistic strategy to address the crisis, involving awareness campaigns, improved access to mental health services, and tackling socioeconomic challenges like poverty and unemployment.
“Some of the strategies we might consider is to raise awareness and reduce stigma and to improve mental health services and to help promote healthy masculinity as well as address socioeconomic factors, need to address poverty and unemployment, improve access to education and job training, need to support community development projects because when we are looking at most of the challenges that they have, they are economically related.”
Silumbu said there is also a need to monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness of whatever is being done.
“So by implementing these strategies, we can help reduce the number of male suicides in Bulawayo and promote a culture of mental health awareness, support and resilience, and probably, they need to be taught on income generating projects to curb poverty,” she said.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Alex Thomas called for stronger family structures and moral guidance to support men emotionally and socially.
“We need open discussions on personal challenges, functional family support systems, and counselling services to address the issues men face,” he said.
Mazibuko added that revisiting traditional cultural practices could help restore balance in relationships. “Women were once guided by elders on how to build harmonious relationships. We’ve lost some of that wisdom, and it’s time to bring it back,” she said.
Adding to the conversation, Makhosi Sibanda, founding executive producer of the Men’s Conference Podcast, stressed the significance of International Men’s Day as a platform to address pressing issues affecting men, including mental health and abuse.
“Abuse against men, though often overlooked, is a critical issue that requires judicial reforms, community activism, and engagement with men and boys to transform harmful gender norms,” said Sibanda.
He outlined key strategies for addressing male suicide:
“We need to break the stigma by fostering environments where men can seek help without fear of judgment. We also need to engage grassroots organisations, workplaces, and faith-based groups to promote peer support systems. We have to challenge toxic gender norms and promote a healthier understanding of masculinity and invest in affordable and culturally sensitive mental health care,” said Sibanda.
“We must ensure men and boys feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in all aspects of life,” Sibanda added.
