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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
A 29-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park allegedly burnt his clothes before committing suicide after being reprimanded for using his 16-year-old cousin’s cellphone.

Newton Maphosa hanged himself on a tree near Cowdray Park dumpsite on Friday after his family told him to stop using his cousin’s cellphone.

A source said Maphosa first burnt his clothes and then killed himself.

“He was told to stop using his cousin’s cellphone but this infuriated him and he burnt his clothes in protest and told his sister who is 21-years-old that he was leaving home for good,” said a source.

He said after he had disappeared for some hours, his sister decided to report the matter to the police. “On her way to the police station, she came across residents who informed her that Newtown had committed suicide near the Bulawayo City Council dumpsite in the  area. He was found hanging on a tree.

We are worried, it doesn’t make sense for a grown up to commit suicide over a cellphone maybe there are other underlying issues,” he said.

The source said police took the body for post mortem at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.

She said police were treating the matter as a suicide.

“We received a report of a 29-year-old man from Cowdray Park who is suspected to have committed suicide following a domestic dispute.

“We call on members of the public to use other means of solving differences. Dialogue is very important when people are facing difficulties,” said Insp Simango.

She said members of the public facing difficulties should engage churches, the elderly or even the police for counselling services.