Woman hangs self at boyfriend's lodgings

A 28-year-old police officer's "small house" from Chivi in Masvingo allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her boyfriend's lodgings at Muchakata business centre after a dispute over her pregnancy.

The incident that was confirmed by Masvingo acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna happened on Monday night.

He identified the deceased as Ngonidzashe Masaiti, of Musinachirevo Village, Chief Nemauzhe, and said her body was taken to Morgenster Hospital for a postmortem.

Asst Insp Nduna said Masaiti was working at Chika-radzo as a shopkeeper when the tragedy struck and had engaged in a relationship with a married policeman stationed at Muchakata Police Station.

"Some time last year, Masaiti, who worked as a shopkeeper at Mugara Shop at Muchakata business centre, fell in love with Const Gumbo stationed at Muchakata. The two have been in love for about one year and on the fateful day, Const Gumbo had sent his wife to their rural home so as to have quality time with his girlfriend," said Asst Insp Nduna.

He said Masaiti told her boyfriend that she was pregnant, but the news did not go down well with him.

"After Masaiti discovered that she was pregnant, she eloped to her boyfriend's lodgings. She arrived at about 8pm and the two discussed the pregnancy before they retired to bed. The two later had a misunderstanding over the issue with the woman insisting that she would not go anywhere because she was carrying Cst Gumbo's baby," he said.

After realising that Gumbo had fallen into a deep sleep, the woman made her way out.

"In the wee hours of the night while Cst Gumbo was fast asleep, Masaiti sneaked out of the room and committed suicide by hanging herself from an avocado tree behind her boyfriend's room using copper wire. When Cst Gumbo woke up at about midnight, he realised that Masaiti, who had been sleeping beside him, was no longer in the room, but her clothes were still in the room," he said.

Police said on Tuesday morning Cst Gumbo woke up and went to the back of his lodgings where he found his girlfriend's body hanging.

A report was made at Muchakata Police Station and they attended the scene.

Asst Insp Nduna said police at Muchakata are still investigating the case. "Police are still investigating the case, but the only lead that police are using is the communication the woman was making with her friends over the phone. In her cellphone there were some messages showing that her friends and relatives  advised her against taking her life," he said.