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Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

A Gweru-based police officer died while admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital (GPH) after allegedly consuming a yet to be identified poison on Sunday.
Constable Claude Jele, who was stationed at the Development House in Gweru, left behind a heartbreaking note explaining his decision.
However, there are no details on the real reason why he took his life.
“Having survived all these 38 years, I have reached a point where I feel like it’s all the same being on this earth or leaving.
“So, please do not accuse anyone or anything. It’s my personal decision to end my life this way,” he wrote.
Jele also apologised to his family and urged them to move on.
“I know you will be hurt, but I do not see a reason to keep living. I have failed. ‘Ganizani and Keisha, it will hurt you, but please forgive me. Grow up well, I have gone ahead’,” wrote Jele.
He also reassured his wife that she should not blame herself for his actions.
“Mai Keisha, do not think it is your fault. We were doing just fine,” he wrote.
Jele included the names and contact details of two people whom he wanted to be informed about his passing.
Jele’s sister Ms Siduhla Mwale, said she received a distress call to the effect that her brother had consumed some poison before he was admitted to GPH.
“I was Chinhoyi when I was told that my brother was admitted to the hospital. I made plans to come and found him admitted in the Intensive Care Unit and the medical personnel were busy trying to save him,” she said.
Ms Mwale said she managed to ask Jele why he had decided to take his own life.
“Since he had some tube in his mouth that was inserted to assist him breath he only opened his eyes and looked at me. I didn’t get any answers from him,” she narrated.
Ms Mwale said her brother will be buried in Zaka in Masvingo Province.
Meanwhile, police officers of different ranks and units descended at Mtapa surbub to pay their last respects to their colleague.
When this reporter visited the residence, the law enforcers were singing and dancing alongside community and church members.
Midlands Provincial police spokesman Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko could not be reached for comment.
The recent spate of back-to-back suicides in Zimbabwe has sounded the alarm on the deepening mental health crisis, prompting widespread calls for the establishment of robust support systems to address the growing concern.