Boy accidentally hangs self

A RUSAPE family is in mourning after their 12-year-old child allegedly accidentally hanged himself on Monday afternoon.

Tawanda Kurira was said to have been playing with another child at his home in Valahala, Rusape, when he picked up a neck tie jokingly saying he wanted to commit suicide.

According to information gathered from Rusape police, the two had been left by their guardians playing at home while they were doing menial jobs elsewhere.

"Kurira's aunt and cousins had left the house when he is reported to have picked the tie and told the little girl he intended to commit suicide.

"It was probably a playful gesture, but it ended disastrously as he died and the little girl in his company could not do anything to assist," said an officer close to the investigation.

Kurira's cousin Martin Samakau (29) yesterday said the family was devastated.

"It is really painful. We do not know what to do. His parents are all late and our mother is the one who has been taking care of him," said Samakau.

"Our situation is worsened by the fact that the owner of the property at which we reside has refused to have the funeral wake here so we are forced just to take his body from the mortuary in Rusape straight to the graveyard or we have to take him to Mutungagore our rural home."

Kurira's body was taken to Rusape General Hospital mortuary where a postmortem was expected to be done yesterday. Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri yesterday said the case was still under investigation.