A 26-year-old man from Lundazi District has died by suicide following the recent death of his wife, who passed away just hours after giving birth to their baby boy. Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Lianitso Nkhoma, a resident of Lundazi whose death has left a one-month-old infant behind.
According to Mr Mweemba, the incident occurred on November 4, 2025, at approximately 14:00 hours. Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr Nkhoma is believed to have ingested a pesticide commonly used for preserving maize grain. Police say the substance, often stored by households for crop protection, is suspected to have been the cause of death. Officers who attended the scene reported that the deceased’s vomit had a strong chemical smell consistent with such pesticides, and tablets believed to be the same substance were discovered lying beside his body.
Mr Mweemba explained that the background to the incident dates back to October, when Mr Nkhoma lost his wife, Susan Mbewe. She reportedly died shortly after delivering their baby boy, a development that left the young father deeply distressed. The police commanding officer stated that since his wife’s passing, Mr Nkhoma had repeatedly shared his worries about the future and his ability to care for the newborn child on his own. Relatives and acquaintances were aware of his concerns, though there was no indication reported at the time that he might take his own life.
The body of Mr Nkhoma was discovered by Phillip Nali, a relative who alerted authorities immediately after finding him unresponsive. Officers from Mwase Police Post responded to the report and visited the scene to conduct a detailed physical inspection. During the assessment, police found no signs of a struggle, no visible injuries, and no evidence suggesting involvement of any other person. Based on the observations and the circumstances at the scene, police say no foul play is suspected in the matter.
Following the inspection, the body was released to family members for burial. Police noted that the relatives declined a post-mortem examination, opting instead to proceed directly with funeral arrangements. An inquiry file has been opened to document the events surrounding the death and maintain official records of the case.
Mr Mweemba further disclosed that the surviving one-month-old baby is currently under the care of Mr Phillip Nali, the deceased’s uncle, while the family continues to manage the situation following the tragedy.
Editor one does not die by suicide one ‘commits’ suicide