Cop takes own life over marital dispute

Lloyd Ndemo

A senior police officer in Zimbabwe is said to have died by suicide on Monday over a marital dispute.

The sergeant-major, who was based at Zimbabwe Republic Police General Headquarters clothing factory, was found unresponsive in a vehicle near the Simon Mazorodze roundabout in the capital, Harare.

He had reportedly told his wife moments earlier that he was “going to die”.

ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “A member of the force was found dead in a white Toyota Gaia (vehicle) registration number ADE 2776. (He was) in the front passenger seat, facing upwards with white fluids on his lips. We are waiting for the post-mortem result.”

Sources told ZTN that the officer might have been depressed on account of  marital problems.

“He had moved out of his marital home so we suspect he may have been under severe depression.”

An internal police memo dated December 7 2020 confirmed as much.

Part of the memo reads: “The deceased was stationed at ZRP PGHQ clothing factory and (it’s been) confirmed that the deceased was Number 054849S Sergeant-Major Inos Mugari.

“…The now-deceased called (his wife) on her cellphone on 7 December 2020 at around 0100hours saying that he was going to die; his body shall be at ‘Mbudzi’ Bus Terminus; the car keys will be in the vehicle door panel and she should take good care of their children.”