A 16-year-old girl of Ndumba village in Kanyama chiefdom of Mwinilunga district in North-western Province has committed suicide after being suspected of stealing from her mother.
North-western Province Police Commissioner Joel Njase has confirmed the development to ZANIS, and named the deceased as Agnes Katenga, a grade 10 pupil of Lunga Day Secondary School.
Mr Njase said the deceased sister Alice Katenga reported that her sister took her life by hanging herself to a mango tree 10 meters away from their house, after she was suspected of stealing three new pairs of underwear belonging to her mother Lucy Kayombo.
He said after being talked to over the matter, the girl got upset and sneaked out of the house, where it was later discovered that she took her own life.
“A grade 10 pupil at Lunga day secondary school has committed suicide by hanging herself to a mango tree, 10 meters away from their house. The cause of death was that she was suspected of stealing three new underwear belonging to her mother Lucy Kayombo of the same abode,” he said.
Mr Njase said the incident is reported to have occurred between 20:00 hours on 30th January 2021 and 06:00 hours on 31st January 2021.
He said the police in the area have visited the scene and inspected the body, and observed a protruded tongue and eyes.
Mr Njase said the body of the deceased has since been deposited in Mwinilunga district hospital mortuary, awaiting burial as no foul play is suspected.
Meanwhile, Mr Njase has observed that there is an urgent need to address emotional handling gaps among people in the communities.
He said the challenge should be addressed by helping the youth especially to understand and accept that criticism is part of life.
“We must address this challenge and ensure that our youths are able to withstand criticism and take it as part of life to make them better. However, this ability to handle emotional challenges comes with careful development of values, belief system, attitude and ultimate conduct,” he said.
Mr Njase has since appealed to leaders, parents, health authorities, the department of social welfare and the church to look at brain science and cognitive disorders and spiritual engagement as part of a long term solution to the challenge.
Sad development ?… Only God knows why she decided to take her life
In Lunda tradition when one takes own life by committing suicide such persons are cursed and don’t serve decent burial rituals. And by the way how does a girl steal her mother’s underwear. Its like there are a lot problems in the country people committing suicide. As the provincial top cop has started there is need for constructive engagement for the community. Further, I think the mother was selfish, how does one three under wears forgetting that the girl also needed same as she was in grade 10, big girl also had needs. These are the small things which make girl children to wrong things. MHSRIP
Really sad for a young girl to end her life over suspected theft of under wear. A lot of work /education needed here for suicide prevention. How can the law enforcement conclude that it was a suicide so soon after the death? How have they investigated the case so quickly and make a verdict of suicide?
Mental health is not a joke. I am current in the process of drafting a high level recommendations to cabinet on funding for local mental health services. We are tired of losing loved ones like this
It’s sad reading… The mother should be questioned in depth about this..
Very sad.. may her soul rest in peace
SAD READING TAKING YOUR LIFE OVER BAMBA , BETTER JUST WEAR A DRESS NO BAMBA FOR EASY AND QUICK ACTION WHENEVER ONE WANTS TO USE IT
It all boarders on poverty.