A series of tragic suicides in the Bulawayo suburb of Entumbane has sparked concern and a call for action from local residents who are faced with the disturbing sight of several men ending their lives by hanging from trees. In the past two months, five men have tragically taken their own lives in this way, leading to widespread fear and sadness within the community.

The most recent case involved a middle-aged man who, almost two weeks ago, chose to end his life on a large tree in an open field located a short distance from Entumbane, near a line of railroad and an electrical substation in Richmond. His body, hidden behind thick green branches, was discovered by a passerby who alerted the community and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The sight of a lifeless body hanging from a tree quickly drew a crowd, but for longtime Entumbane resident Nkosikhona Mlilo, it was yet another grim reminder of the growing suicide crisis in his neighborhood.

Mlilo, a middle-aged man who grew up in the suburbs, expressed deep concern about the rising number of suicides. “It’s very worrying when we see our brothers killing themselves almost every week,” he said, pointing to the tree where the latest victim was found. “This is the fifth man to hang himself here in just two months.”

For residents like Mlilo, seeing a corpse hanging from a tree has become almost routine, a chilling symbol of the invisible struggles many men in the community face. “Death is now something we no longer fear here in Entumbane,” he lamented. “Our kids are now talking about seeing someone hanging from a tree somewhere in broad daylight because they see it on their phones or witness it themselves.”

In response to the alarming trend, some residents have called for trees where suicides have occurred to be removed in hopes of preventing further deaths. However, local leaders say cutting down trees is not a solution to the underlying mental health crisis.

Pastor Descent Tshuma, a member of the Entumbane Residents Association and a local church leader, stressed that the issue is not just about removing the trees, but addressing the psychological pressures faced by men in the community. “Men are under immense pressure to provide for their families and when they fail to do so, it can lead them to take desperate actions,” explained Tshuma.

Pastor Tshuma and other community leaders teamed up with local businesses to provide counseling services and organize awareness campaigns aimed at supporting the men through their emotional struggles. The initiative includes roadshows and open talks about mental health, with trained counselors available to help those who want to talk.

“Suicide is not the answer,” Tshuma said. “We need to create an environment where men can talk openly about their problems and get the support they need before it’s too late.”

Traditional beliefs have also contributed to the growing unrest in the area. Gogo Mbuyani, a traditional healer from the neighboring suburb of Pumula Old, claimed that some unscrupulous healers use the bark of trees where suicides have taken place for rituals designed to influence others to take their own lives. “When a person commits suicide, their spirit remains around the tree and some traditional healers use the bark for ungodly rituals,” explained Gogo Mbuyani.

While some community members like Butholezwe Nxumalo are calling for the trees to be removed to prevent further suicides, others like Pastor Tshuma are stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of these tragedies. “Cutting down trees is not the solution. We need to address the psychological and societal issues that lead to these deaths,” he said.

Local parents have also expressed concern, with one anonymous resident revealing her fears about disciplining her children in light of the recent suicides. “Now I hesitate to discipline my children because I’m worried they might take drastic measures and kill themselves,” she said. “Something must be done to address this crisis and ensure the well-being of our children.”

Local councilor Khalazani Ndlovu could not be reached for comment on the legality of removing suicide trees, but Bulawayo Municipal Council bylaws state that cutting down trees in public spaces requires municipal permission.

As the number of suicides continues to rise, residents of Entumbane are calling for more to be done to prevent further loss of life. Community leaders are urging both local authorities and wider society to come together to tackle the mental health issues plaguing the suburb and provide better support for those struggling in silence.