A 16-year-old Grade 9 student from Chinsali, Muchinga Province, has reportedly taken his own life after his father advised him to focus on his studies ahead of his upcoming exams.
Muchinga Province Police Commanding Officer, Dennis Moola, confirmed the tragic incident, stating that Titus Mulenga of Seed Farm village died between Saturday night and Sunday morning. On Saturday evening, around 20:00 hours, his father, Bernard Mulenga, urged him to concentrate on his studies as his Grade 9 exams were approaching.
“The father did not see his son the following day and went to church. It was only later that he received the devastating news of his son’s death,” Moola said.
Police found Titus’ body with a laptop bag containing Grade 9 past papers beside him. The body was transported to Chinsali District Hospital mortuary for examination and burial preparations.
This follows a similar tragic event last week, when an 18-year-old Grade 12 student from Ndola also committed suicide after her mother reprimanded her for returning late from tuition.
Dr. George Tafuna, Public Relations Manager at Chainama Hills Mental Hospital, has linked the rise in youth suicides to substance abuse and low self-esteem, especially when adolescents face parental criticism. “Young people often struggle with low self-esteem when confronted by parents about their actions,” he explained.
