Two Men Commit Suicide On Consecutive Nights In Cowdray Park
A 47-year-old man and a 21-year-old man in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, died by hanging on consecutive nights in separate incidents that authorities say are unrelated. Both deaths were discovered by children.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the tragedies.
She said the first incident happened on 1 December 2025 at around 9:30 PM, when a 40-year-old woman returned home from work and was informed by her nine-year-old daughter that Fungai Ncube (47), who lived in the same house, had locked himself in a bedroom and was unresponsive.
The woman looked through the bedroom window and saw Ncube hanging from a roof truss. Police were alerted, and the body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where it is awaiting a post-mortem. No suicide note was found, and the motive remains unknown.
The second incident occurred almost exactly 24 hours later, on 2 December 2025. Said Insp. Msebele:
“On 2 December 2025, around 9:30 PM, a 15-year-old boy returned home from his piece job to find the doors of their house locked from the inside.
“After failing to get a response from his older brother, Sizalobuhle Sibanda (21), the teenager forced open the main door.
“Sibanda had hanged himself from the roof truss in the lounge. The young boy immediately called for help.
“A police report was made, and the body of the now deceased was conveyed to United Bulawayo Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
“As with the first case, the reasons behind the suicide are unknown.”
Inspector Msebele said that the close timing and similar circumstances of the two incidents have left the Cowdray Park community deeply shaken. She said:
“It’s heartbreaking to see two families going through such pain in such a short time.
“We need to check on each other more, especially now when life is difficult for many people.
“Early intervention saves lives. We encourage the public to be observant and proactive.
“A simple conversation, a check-in or timely support can prevent a tragedy.”
Health experts continue to urge people to take mental health warning signs seriously, such as persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, sudden withdrawal, substance abuse, or drastic changes in behaviour.
