The Sunday Mail
Emmanuel Kafe
FOR some strange reason, some people find the prospect of death more appealing than continuing to be among the living.
While reasons behind suicide can be perplexing and inscrutable, even more puzzling is the fact that there are places that seem to summon those wishing to take their own lives.
Globally, there are sites that are frequently chosen for suicide.
News organisations worldwide have stopped reporting on suicides or collecting information on some of the most popular suicide spots, in the hope that this will dissuade more people from taking their own lives.
Suicide barriers and signs have even been put up at certain places, advising those considering suicide to consider other options.
A quick search on the internet brings up places such as the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China, where more than 2 000 suicide deaths were recorded between 1968 and 2006.
The Golden Gate Bridge, California, United States of America, has 1 600 known suicides.
For the Prince Edward Viaduct, Toronto, Ontario, 492 deaths were recorded before 2003.
These mysterious places seem to relentlessly attract death, adding to their collection of souls with each suicide.
What draws people to choose to die at these places remains a mystery.
A spot in Harare seems to have joined this list of infamous places of death.
In a space of two months, three people have died at the corner of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Rezende Street.
The worrying deaths started with a clergyman throwing himself to death from the third floor of Rezende Parkade.
Some cited infidelity and financial problems, while others said his family had a history of suicide.
However, that is a story for another day. What boggles the mind is the fact that a man who was expected to discourage others from committing suicide secretly harboured the same thoughts.
Two weeks after the clergyman’s death, a John Doe reportedly collapsed at the same street corner and died on the spot.
As if that was not enough, tragedy struck again at the same place three weeks later when an 18-year-old Churchill Boys High School student committed suicide by jumping off Rezende parkade’s third floor.
He died on the spot.
Having three deaths within the vicinity in a space of two months is a worrying statistic.
Could it be mere coincidence?
Could there be more to the deaths?
What drew the people to these locations?
Whilst doctors are of the opinion that medical conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse are behind suicide, traditionalists believe that the phenomena is beyond science.
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu said the three deaths were not a coincidence. He said the place needs to be cleansed before it takes more people.
“Traditionally, places like these are called maziva ndadzoka or mayedzere.
That suicide spot must be immediately cleansed,” he said.
But, health experts aver that people with a family history of mental illness are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. We mere mortals may never know the motivation behind suicide or the choice of a suicide spot, but we can only encourage those harbouring suicidal thoughts to find a way to hang on to life.
Feedback: [email protected]
