A 45-year-old man of Chinsali in Muchinga province has died after he committed suicide by consuming a pesticide.
Geoffrey Sinkala took his life after realising that he may have killed his wife, Gloria Nankamba aged 40 whom he beat up with a metallic hammer and a pressing iron until she was unconscious.
The two are believed to have gone on separation after marital disputes began in their marriage last month, leading to Sinkala, now deceased to chase her from their home.
However, in October this month, the wife who is currently admitted in hospital decided to go back to her matrimonial home a day after being chased to visit her children.
This angered Sinkala, now deceased and he manhandled her until she fainted.
Muchinga province commanding officer Paul Achiume said the incident occurred on October 6th, this year
He said the report was fostered by a concerned member of the public.
“Facts are that Nankamba Gloria aged 40 now the victim and her husband Geoffrey Sinkala aged 45 now the deceased, were married and they were having Marital Problems. Their disputes started in the month of September, 2023. This led to Geofrey Sinkala, now the deceased to chase his wife away from their home on October 5th, 2023 and got her clothes and locked them in the master bedroom,” he said.
Mr Achiume said on the same day, the victim left for Isoka.
He said however, that the next day on October 6th, 2023 around 11:00 hours, his wife went back to her matrimonial house so that she could visit her children.
“Upon arrival, she went to sleep in her Children’s room with her two daughters. As she was with her children in their room, her husband Geofrey Sinkala arrived and chased all the Children outside the room and locked the door. He had a machete and a metallic hammer in his hands. He attempted to hack his wife with a machete, but she managed to grab it and threw it away,” he said.
He said the suspect, now deceased then hit her with a hammer on the right and left side of the head and on the forehead.
Mr Achiume said the suspect then also hit her with a pressing Iron on the head and she fainted.
He then left the victim unconscious and went to lock himself in the masters bedroom.
“Police officers visited the scene and found Geofrey Sinkala now the deceased locked in the master bedroom. They knocked at the door, but he was not responding. Officers broke the door to the Master bedroom and he was found with a bottle of pesticide in his hands which he had consumed to commit suicide.”
“They also found another bottle of pesticide, a hammer, machete and two bottles of beer at the scene. The couple was immediately rushed to Chinsali District Hospital for medical treatment. Gloria Nankamba sustained Cuts on the right and left side of the head and a swollen face.
The two were admitted at the said Hospital, and unfortunately Sinkala died from the hospital whilst receiving treatment,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Sunday, 8th October, 2023)
