St Faith’s suicide: Details emerge

THE shocking suicide case of a Form Four student at St Faith’s High School in Rusape last week on Friday has been linked to the religious beliefs of the deceased and his prayer partners, The Manica Post has learnt.

Both the responsible authority, Anglican Diocese of Manicaland and the late Tatenda Kapuya (17)’s relatives confirmed that the Form Four student’s death had roots in the clashes he had with other students over religion, with colleagues labelling him a satanist.

Tatenda of Vengere in Rusape hanged himself in a hostel shortly after returning to the school.

He had been taken home by authorities who were reportedly concerned about his safety as a false suicide alarm he had raised had agitated other students who were now calling him a satanist.

Investigations conducted by The Manica Post revealed that school authorities and other students believed that the late Tatenda had taken his religious beliefs too far and was disrupting learning activities at the school.

It is alleged that Tatenda would prophesy on other students’ lives and announce his prophesies, thereby annoying others.

This earned him a number of adversaries among students and teachers.

Tatenda and other prayer warriors were also barred from conducting midnight prayers at the school as other students had lodged a complaint that their studies and sleep were being disrupted by the noise caused by the group.

Investigations also revealed that after that ruling, the group relocated to the school church but was again barred from using the church as they were reportedly finishing their prayers at odd hours, thereby compromising their own security.

The day before he committed suicide, Tatenda had allegedly caused pandemonium at the school after claiming that a fellow student had committed suicide and left a suicide note. When confronted by the school authorities to produce the suicide note, it is alleged that Tatenda said he had flashed it in the toilet.

The student he claimed to have committed suicide was later spotted at the school and denied ever discussing a death wish with Tatenda.

This event reportedly marked the total breakdown of the relationship between Tatenda, other students and teachers who had been sent on wild goose chase over the false suicide alarm.

Sensing that Tatenda’s safety at the school was no longer guaranteed as other students where threatening to deal with the ‘satanist’, St Faith High School head, Mr Arnold Makamba; his deputy, a Mr Mudangwe and a senior teacher drove Tatenda to his Rusape home around 11pm.

They were also accompanied by his two friends as witnesses.

lt is said Tatenda then returned to the school the following day and hanged himself in a hostel.

When approached to comment over the issue, Tatenda’s mother, Ms Sarudzayi Kapuya referred The Manica Post to her sister, Mrs Veria Matika.

She said the satanist label is not going down well with their family considering the fact that some teachers had also allegedly joined the students in insulting Tatenda.

She added: “This happened in the afternoon and Tatenda’s mother asked why they had come with her son at midnight, but the head only told her that they had done so for Tatenda’s safety.

“During the discussion, Tatenda told the headmaster that he was supposed to show him some love at school as he spends most of his time there.

“He also accused the headmaster of not addressing problems being faced by students, especially complaints against teachers. He took a paper and challenged the head to write his expulsion letter in the presence of his mother.

“However, Tatenda was restrained by his mother from exchanging words with the school head,” said Tatenda’s aunt.

“After a lengthy discussion, the head promised to solve the problems. He asked Tatenda to report back to the school the following morning.

“In the morning, Tatenda and his mother went to town and she proceeded to her workplace while Tatenda boarded a lift back to school.

Tatenda did not sneak back into the school as alleged, maybe they did not see him entering the premises.

“His mother was later called by the police informing her that Tatenda had committed suicide at the school,” said Mrs Matika.

She described Tatenda as a well behaved and God-fearing boy.

“The main thing that troubled him was being labelled a satanist. Academically, he was a brilliant guy who had registered for 14 ‘O’ Level subjects. He wanted to become a medical doctor. As a family, we are hurt to the core by Tatenda’s death,” said Mrs Matika.

She said the head, his deputy, an Anglican church representative and an official from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education attended the funeral.

In a statement, the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland said the school environment was hostile to Tatenda after his false suicide alert.

“Tatenda was taken home the night before by the head. This was a result of a hostile environment that had sprouted, resulting in a group of learners threatening to physically harm him.

“Tatenda had lied that a fellow learner had gone missing and committed suicide. Upon discovering that the other learner was alive and well, other learners were agitated, labelling Tatenda a satanist.

“Noone among the administration and members of staff were aware that Tatenda had returned to the school,” reads part of the statement released by the Diocesan Registrar, Mr Ashel Mutungura.

Mr Makamba referred questions to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

On Wednesday, Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba said the team dispatched to conduct investigations at the school was yet to table its findings.

Tatenda left three suicide notes with one suggesting that he had deliberately raised a false suicide alert in order to get attention so that he could speak out on what was troubling him.

“. . . I thought I could get some attention to speak on all that was stressing me. But now I guess you just don’t care anymore. Ngoni sorry, Mom sorry. Everyone sorry. I was a burden and now I have to go,” reads one of the notes.

The other one read: “Ndizvo here zvamaida! Ndaenda zvino musare mugarike! VaMakamba, VaMunyoro, Mai Sabadza, VaMatikiti, Mai Makamba, VaMudangwe, Mai Mudangwe, Mai Tanya, VaChoto nevamwe vose musare murugare makandituka mukati muSatanist zvino ndakusiyai nerugare rwamunoti ndakakutorerai. I will revenge hangu.”

On the third note, he listed names of 29 students he wanted to exact revenge on.

The police said investigations are in progress.