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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A 22-YEAR-OLD Gweru farm labourer hanged himself over $16 he alleged was his outstanding salary that his employer was refusing to pay after working for less than a month.

Garikayi Osman Maposa of number 52 Sunrise Farm, Gweru, hanged himself from a thorny tree.

Midlands Provincial Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa yesterday waived post-mortem as foul play was not suspected in Maposa’s death after he was found hanging last Sunday.

“On August 13 at around 9AM, the now deceased took his axe and left the farm of his employer without informing anyone about where he was going. At around 11PM on the same day, the deceased’s body was discovered hanging from a tree. The scene was attended to by the police and a body search was conducted leading to the discovery of two suicide notes. The axe was pinned to the ground. Further investigations by the police indicated that no foul play is suspected,” reads the summary of facts from the police.

In one suicide note left by Maposa, he accused his employer, Mrs Emily Gwede, of causing his death.

Maposa said Mrs Gwede had refused to pay him his half month salary of $16.

He said he had worked for her for half a month and wanted to look for work elsewhere.

“You know why I killed myself. I wanted my salary and you refused and called me names. When I die ferry my body to my rural home in Chivi by NRZ and give my bag to my relatives,” wrote Maposa.

Mrs Gwede said she owed Maposa $16 and confirmed that he had only worked for half a month.

She said he earned $32 per month.

“We had a misunderstanding over a maid who had run away. He would take his clothes to her and when I confronted him he said he wanted to leave and demanded his half salary, which is $16. I didn’t have the money that time and I was shocked when we found his body hanging from a tree,” Mrs Gwede said. — @pchitumba1