Woman take her own life allegedly over husband’s infidelity in Balaka

A 69-year-old woman, Maria Makoko, has committed suicide at Chimpakati Village, Traditional Authority Chanthunya in Balaka District allegedly over her husband’s infidelity.

Balaka Police publicist, Gladson M’bumpha, said the incident occurred on Tuesday night. This follows longstanding marital issues Maria had with her husband, Francis Kamba, 60, whom she had previously accused of having an affair with a younger woman.

Though the issue was resolved at family level, it reportedly continued to cause tension in the home.

M’bumpha said on the day of the incident, Maria asked her husband for money, but when he said he had none, she accused him of spending it on his girlfriend. She then told her husband and family that she was going to take her own life.

Shortly after, she disappeared and was later found unconscious in a nearby garden with two bottles of pesticides—one empty. She was rushed to Kankao Health Centre, where she died while receiving treatment.

A postmortem confirmed death due to poisoning.