A 50-year-old Deputy headteacher at Bazimu Primary School in Chama District of Eastern Province has committed suicide by ingesting maize preservative tablets.
Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident, stating that it is believed to have occurred between Monday, January 5, 2026, and Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Clement Mwewa is reported to have taken his life after facing financial challenges.
“Brief facts of the matter are that Mr. Mwewa, now deceased, was married and had three children. His first-born daughter had recently passed her Grade 9 examinations and qualified to proceed to Grade 10,” Mr Mweemba disclosed.
Mr. Mweemba said that on Monday, 5th January 2026, the deceased left the school compound for Chama town to withdraw money from the bank for his daughter’s school fees, but allegedly found no money in his account.
He did not return home and was later found dead the following morning.
Sources close to the deceased disclosed that Mr. Mwewa had been experiencing financial challenges due to over-borrowing and was struggling to adequately provide for his family, a situation believed to have contributed to the incident.
Mr. Mweemba said police officers visited the scene and found the body lying on its back outside his office.
“A bottle of palm wine suspected to have been mixed with maize preservative tablets was found near the body, along with melted preservative tablets,” he said.
Police conducted a physical inspection and observed no visible injuries on the body.
The body has been deposited into Chama District Hospital mortuary, awaiting postmortem examination.
Mr. Mweemba said an inquiry has since been opened, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.
