A 19-year-old boy identified as Chikondi Kaponda, has committed suicide at Zalewa in Neno district by throwing himself into Shire river.

According to Neno Public Relations Officer Rabecca Msoliza says, on December, 24, 2024, Kaponda left home for a walk at Zalewa Trading Center together with his friends.

As they were crossing Zalewa bridge, Kaponda told his friends that he wanted to ease himself; surprisingly, he jumped into the river from the bridge and drowned.

Msoliza says this prompted his friends to report the incident to his parents who upon searching his room, they found a letter that was expressing his intentions to go where he would not come back and that he was asking for forgiveness from parents, relatives and his girlfriend.

The body of Chikondi was found floating at Chinambiya village down Shire river during the Christmas day of 25th December, 2024.

Lisungwi Community Hospital has confirmed his death and that it was caused by suffocation due to drowning.

Chikondi Kaponda hailed from Zalewa village, Traditional Authority Symon in Neno district.