Mutare schoolgirl(14) suicide: Details emerge

A Form Three learner who committed suicide in a school toilet at St Mary’s Secondary School in Chikanga, Mutare on Tuesday had just been reprimanded for aberrant behaviour by her grandmother, The Manica Post has established.

The nasty incident left social media users in the eastern border city purporting different schools of thought on the reasons that led the teenager to take her own life.

When our news crew visited the family’s Chikanga Phase Two home yesterday (Thursday), we gathered that the late 14-year-old Rumbidzai Chimusasa had an acrimonious relationship with her stepmother.

However, on the fateful day, she had been warned against errant behaviour by her grandmother, Ms Juliet Mafunga, whom she was staying with.

In an interview, the visibly distraught Ms Mafunga said she had warned Rumbidzai against coming home late and also advised her to cut ties with some of her close friends.

“I am not sure if I was supposed to just remain and watch her coming home late as well as continue playing with friends that I knew would be of bad influence to her.

“I took her as my own child. I have six children and I am not married. I am a vendor and the least I expected was to be troubled by kids that I work so hard to feed.

“On the day she died, I had warned her against playing with some of her naughty friends and told her to stop coming home late. I am not sure if this is what prompted her to commit suicide, but surely was I wrong?,” she said.

“I did not only reprimand her. I also reprimanded my own daughter. My daughter heeded my advice, so I do not know whether this offended Rumbidzai or not. I think there was more to her decision to commit suicide than my words.

Ms Mafunga, without divulging much detail, also told The Manica Post that there was a rift between the late teenager and her stepmother, which resulted in her coming to stay with her.

“I know that there was bad blood between Runbi and her stepmother, but unfortunately only her father can explain that. I also got to hear about some scary things that happened between her and her stepmother that I cannot disclose,” she added.

Rumbidzai’s father was said to be still at his rural home in Masvingo where the late teenager was laid to rest. His mobile phone was not reachable.

The incident resulted in learners at the school being dismissed early on Tuesday after Rumbidzai had committed suicide in one of the school’s toilets.

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