Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A 25-year-old man from Gokwe tried to commit suicide on April Fools’ Day by poisoning himself after his wife threatened to leave him, a court heard. Ishmael Miti from Nemangwe Village in Gokwe allegedly had a fallout with his wife, Sheila Tarugarira, after she refused to let him attend an Alick Macheso show. A court heard how Tarugarira told Miti she was divorcing him.
He allegedly took a pesticide.
Miti, the court heard, suffered severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and had a pounding headache for a long time.
He eventually made a false report to the police, claiming his wife had poisoned him.
Miti pleaded guilty to deliberately supplying false information to a public authority when he appeared before Gokwe Magistrate Collen Chiruma.
“Your worship, I had a dispute with my wife after she denied me permission to attend a Macheso show at Gokwe Centre. She then threatened to divorce me. I only made this false report so that she comes back,” he said.
Magistrate Chiruma fined Miti $50 or 20 days imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.
Prosecuting, Handrina Mbwarume told the court Miti took Acetamol liquid, which is a cotton pesticide and drank it, intending to commit suicide on April 1 at around 9PM. The court heard Miti convulsed in pain for “a long time” until he informed his relatives who rushed him to hospital where he was treated.
Mbwarume said they proceeded to Gokwe Police Station where Miti lied to the police that he had been poisoned by his wife after a dispute.
The prosecutor said investigations were carried out and it was discovered that Miti had poisoned himself.