The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
A MIDLANDS State University student allegedly committed suicide last week by downing a poisonous substance in front of the institution’s Administration Block while authorities looked on.The student was protesting against delays in releasing his money by the institution which was six months overdue.
The incident occurred last week Friday when Learnmore Nyamutsaka (26) allegedly downed poison at the institution’s administration block after they had refused to give him money amounting to $2 500 which he was owed by the institution.
MSU registrar Mr Erasmus Mupfiga confirmed the incident saying MSU was carrying out internal investigations to establish circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
“I can confirm that a student, who was on work related learning, committed suicide at the institution. Following the incident our Vice-Chancellor set up a committee to investigate the matter. We want to establish the reason why the student decided to commit suicide at the institution,” he said.
A witness alleged that on the fateful day Nyamutsaka went to MSU to ask about his outstanding payment for chickens he had sold to the institution.
He was told that the money was not available.
“Nyamutsaka was on work related learning and was doing community engagement programmes in Buhera in Vhiriri area at one of the lecturers, Dr Nyawo’s rural home. He applied for a loan from Kingdom Bank and started a chicken project. He would sell the chickens to MSU. It is alleged that he sold his chickens to MSU but did not receive full payment. He was forced to defer a semester because he could not pay for his fees,” said the source.
The source further alleged that Nyamutsaka was forced to fork out his own money to pay for some of the chickens he got from locals in Buhera with whom he was jointly running the project.
“He went to the institution to ask about his outstanding payment which was about $2 500. The institution could not give him the money and he decided to commit suicide right in front of the Administration Block in protest. Nyamutsakwa was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he died on admission,” he said.
The matter was surprisingly not reported to the police.
“We have not received any report related to that effect. We have inquired with the responsible station, they did not receive any report,” said Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko.
