A male suspect of Nabvutika Township in Chipata district has committed suicide in a cell at Chipata Central Police Station where he was held for allegedly stealing two pockets of cement.
Eastern Province Commissioner of Police Geza Lungu says the suspect aged between 25 and 30 years old had been dragged to the police station for stealing two bags of cement and an Itel phone which were property of Peter Mwanza who had contracted the suspect to build a house for him.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Mr Lungu said the incident occurred on Tuesday January 26th between 22 and 23 hours at Chipata Central Police Station.
The Eastern Province Commissioner of Police named the victim as Joseph Mbewe a house builder.
“The suspect who was arrested and detained in the police cells became violent whilst in the cells. He was separated by police officers from the male cell to the female cell which was empty,” Mr Lungu explained.
Mr Lungu said upon making a routine check, it was discovered that the suspect Joseph Mbewe had committed suicide by hanging himself using a T-shirt to the metal bars on the cell window.
“Physical inspection on the body of the suspect was conducted and no visible injuries were seen. No foul play is suspected and that an inquiry file has been opened,” he explained.
Mr Lungu said the body of the suspect has already been deposited at Chipata Central Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.
Mental Health Expert at Chipata Central Hospital Fredrick Mwanza has disclosed that pressure on young people by parents to succeed is one of the contributing factors to increased suicide among them.
“Sometimes the pressure parents put on their children to succeed can make them commit suicide. Parents should know the best way to talk to their children with regards to their school performance, other than issuing threats,” he said.
Mr Mwanza said attempted suicide cases are high among young people due to increased pressure to succeed and social media bullying among other reasons.
“Usually, before we had these technology developments, we would know whom our children were interacting with but for now things are more complex. So, these are some of the things that might be contributing to the ugly scenario of suicide amongst young people,” he said.
Mr Mwanza it is alright for every parent to want their child to have good grades at school but there should be a proper channel of talking to them in case of poor performance.
Mr Mwanza added that parents should learn to accept their children even when they are not brilliant in school because they might be good in other areas.
Sue the Police
Ila King what for?
Wurie Silos Siloka ????yawe ulikuli mebo bwandikola
Lusambo can’t do that…
Can you imagine, 2 pockets of cement compared to any PF scandal.
2 pockets of cement you take someone to jail for life?
suspects who what?
Sad that a man can resort to taking his own life over such a matter. This is the biggest sin one can commit. A very selfish act which leaves families and those who dealt with him in agony and depression. I hope the lord finds it in him to forgive this sinner. We console the family, police and friends
Some titles:”Suspect who two pockets of cement commits suicide inside police cell”. Kikiki. Who two??
Story does not add up.
Who in their right mind in Zambia would get violent towards the police, while at a police station? The suspect was a builder, of sane mind. Why would he need to get violent while in captivity?
I pray someone independent takes a closer look at this story. The family should have a private autopsy done.
So many lives are being lost while in police custody, and they are getting away with murder.
Very sad…. Losing your life over to cement pockets sure
Zambia police has been turned into a killing machinery for the PF regime. Policing citizens should not be a show of power to harass, humiliate and intimidate the general public. That was a simple matter, if Zambia police was civil enough would instead have mediated and loss of life would have been avoided.
Take them to task….we need answers
Sad but true analysis made by the mental health expert. Zambian parents tend to compare their children with other people’s children and expect them to be the same. They forget that each person is their own individual and that a person centred approach is required in shaping children on the way to go in life.
This is do sad that he can commit suicide over two bags of cement, when PF are stealing millions everyday
They are supposed to be killed.
Weighing the case it was supposed to be settled out side court under the supervision of the police. Life has been lost
Only a dog can blame pf over the actions of an individual sinner. In fact a dog with rabies
Very sad. Suicide continue to be one of the many ways are killing themselves