Zimpapers Logo

Patient Sibanda Chronicle Reporter
A MAN from Gwabalanda suburb in Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide by throwing himself headlong from a 30 metre high tower light, police have confirmed.

Vincent Leslie Tshuma, 30, popularly known as Shorty, jumped from the tower light near his home at around 11.30 PM on Tuesday.

The reason why Tshuma decided to kill himself is still not known.

Horrified witnesses said a neighbour saw him climbing up the tower light and thought he was a thief.

The man reportedly threw stones on the rooftops of neighbours’ houses — a code used in the neighbourhood to alert others of danger.

“The man called other neighbours saying there was a suspicious looking man who was scaling the tower light. No one realised it was Shorty,” said a witness who declined to be named.

The witness said people came out of their homes to watch the man who kept climbing higher.

“When he got to the top, he stretched out his hands and jumped headlong like someone diving into a swimming pool. Some women screamed while others covered their children’s eyes as the man plunged to his death,” said the witness.

When some men gathered courage to inspect the mangled body; they discovered it was one of their neighbours, Shorty.

Yesterday, The Chronicle found a crowd that included family members and curious onlookers gathered at the scene.

The body had been removed.

The family refused to talk to The Chronicle, saying they had already spoken to the police.

His mother, who is believed to be a nurse, fainted when she saw blood that marked the spot where her son landed. Neighbours revived her and tried to comfort her.

The news crew saw family members gathering the blood stained soil and putting it into a dish.

Sources said the man did not have children and he was living with his sister.

Another neighbour who preferred anonymity said he found the incident traumatising.

“I was called by other neighbours who threw stones to alert us of what was happening outside. When Shorty realised a sizeable crowd was watching him he jumped,” said the neighbour.

They said police collected Shorty’s body from the scene at around 2AM.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the suicide.

“I confirm that we received a report of a man who allegedly committed suicide by throwing himself from a tower light,” said Insp Simango.

“As police we’re appealing to the members of the public to seek counsel from church elders, community leaders and from police community relations officers who are found at every police station instead of killing themselves,” said Insp Simango.