Man kills self over job loss

A Kwekwe man allegedly committed suicide by taking cyanide after he failed to bear the agony of being dismissed from work on allegations of theft.

The now deceased, Nhau Saaliki (39), who was employed by St Boys Mine in Kwekwe, received his dismissal letter on Tuesday and went straight home where he allegedly committed suicide in front of his wife.

Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the incident occurred early on Tuesday at the mine compound in Silobela, Kwekwe rural.

Said Insp Mahoko: "The now deceased, Nhau Saaliki who was employed by St Boys Mine as a clerk, was dismissed from work on allegations of theft. On Tuesday at around 4am Saaliki woke up his wife and told her that he had been fired from work and wanted to kill himself."

Insp Mahoko said Saaliki told his wife, Spiwe Mwanza, that the Mine's managing director, Mr Urayai Marime, had a long standing grudge with him over a vehicle Mr Marime bought from him.

"Saaliki also disclosed to his wife before he committed suicide that his boss, Mr Marime, still owed him $1 500 for the car he sold to him.

"He said Mr Marime was not willing to pay him the outstanding amount and decided to fire him on false allegations of theft," said Insp Mahoko.

He said Saaliki immediately took cyanide and consumed it after narrating his story to his wife.

"The wife screamed for help as she struggled to stop the now deceased from consuming cyanide but to no avail. When some neighbours visited the compound, they found Saaliki already dead," he said.

Insp Mahoko said police who attended to the scene took Saaliki's body to Silobela District Hospital mortuary.