A Bulawayo family suffered double tragedy when a grief-stricken woman committed suicide shortly after the burial of her mother.
The late Sithembiso Phiri -Sibanda who stayed with her husband in Gwanda, had travelled to Bulawayo to attend her 65-year-old mother, Rita Phiri’s funeral.
Sithembiso committed suicide by hanging herself with a wrapping cloth in one of the rooms a few hours after burying her mother who reportedly died in her sleep on Sunday.
The deceased’s visibly shocked husband, Obadiah Sibanda said he was at a loss for words following the double tragedy that befell the family.
Sibanda said after the burial other female relatives were in the house while men were seated outside.
He said his wife took a bath after which she went into one of the rooms intending to change clothes.
He added that they thought she was changing after taking a bath, but it seems she used that chance to kill herself.
After she took long to come out of the room, efforts were made to look for her and they discovered her room was locked.
“We tried to knock on the door and there was no response. I got worried and alerted relatives and we peered through the window leading to the discovery of her body hanging from the trusses,” said Sibanda.
She did not leave a suicide note according to reports.
Another family member Wurayai Shiri said they were struggling to come to terms with the double tragedy.
He said if only the deceased had left a note they might have had answers on why she decided to kill herself.
The publication reports that other neighbours and relatives who had attended the funeral are still in shock.
