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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 68-YEAR-OLD Mangwe man based in South Africa committed suicide by hanging as he feared that he could be HIV positive after he tested positive to tuberculosis. Mandla Mpofu’s wife and children woke up around 4AM on Wednesday to find him hanging from a tree close to the entrance to their yard with a rope around his neck.

The injiva who is from Masiyephambili Village in the Mambale area was, on the fateful day, supposed to go to hospital for HIV tests together with his wife.

Chief Bango said he had heard about the incident which occurred in his area but was yet to receive a detailed report on the matter.

Mandla’s uncle, Donald Mpofu, said his nephew had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and was now suspecting that he could also be HIV positive.

He said his nephew arrived home from South Africa on Sunday in a critical condition.

“Mandla had been working in South Africa for a long time. At one time, he worked as umalayitsha,” said Donald.

He said his nephew visited his family during the festive season and disclosed to him that he been diagnosed with TB before returning to work.

Donald said Mandla refused to disclose this to his wife and planned to seek treatment secretly.

He said his nephew’s condition deteriorated until he decided to return home.

“We kept communicating during the time he went back to South Africa early this month but he never recovered. I advised him to return home and tell his wife and then seek treatment.

“However, he refused to yield pointing out that he might be HIV positive and did not want his wife to find out. He got worse by the day until he was left with no other option but to return home,” said Donald.

He said upon his return, Mandla’s wife insisted on taking him to hospital but he resisted.

Donald said Mandla finally agreed to go to Brunapeg Hospital on Wednesday morning.

He said Mandla’s wife told him that she woke up around 4AM on that day preparing to leave for the hospital together with her husband.

Donald said his nephew is reported to have left home first after indicating that he wanted to proceed to the toilet.

He said when Mandla’s wife got out, she was shocked to find her husband hanging from a tree just outside their yard.

The councillor for Mambale area, Walter Mpofu confirmed the incident which occurred within his ward.

He said Mandla who was once a prominent malayitsha in the village, was buried on the same day he died.