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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A MINISTRY of Primary and Secondary Education employee based in Masvingo has been found dead in a suspected case of suicide.

Tawanda Ndava, 45, of Masvingo’s Pangolin suburb, who worked in the Ministry’s Human Resources Department, was reported missing last week, only for his body to be found three days later near Ndarama High School.

Masvingo Provincial Education Director Zadius Chitiga confirmed the civil servant’s death but said he was not aware of what exactly transpired.

“I can confirm receiving a report of sudden death of one of our staff members. However, I don’t have the details on what exactly transpired. We are also shocked by this tragedy,” said Chitiga.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said he was yet to receive a report on the matter.

Ndava’s body was found by a passer-by on Wednesday last week, three days after he went missing.

Mavis Manyatera, a Pangolin suburb resident, said two bottles suspected to have contained a poisonous substance that Ndava drank, were found near his body.

A note in his pocket read: “Ndatadza kumanager mhuri yangu (I’ve failed to manage my family)”.

“Ndava was a well-known resident and civil servant in Pangolin. He was found dead by a passerby who alerted other residents on Wednesday around 11 AM. The matter was reported to the police who took the body to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary,” said Manyatera.

Last week, a Bikita school head was found hanging from a tree after an audit at his school revealed that about $6,000 was missing.