Tanzania: UDSM Student Hangs Himself

UNIVERSITY of Dar es Salaam

A UNIVERSITY of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) second year law student committed suicide by hanging himself at the university's main campus in the city.

The Kinondoni Regional Commander (RPC), Charles Kenyela, told the 'Daily News' yesterday that the student, Joseph Njelekela (25), went missing on Sunday afternoon, before his body was discovered on Monday afternoon.

"We are still investigating the matter to establish what made him take his own life, but preliminary investigations indicate that Njelekela was suffering from depression and he was once admitted to the Muhimbili National Hospital over the problem," said the RPC.

RPC Kenyela said that Njelekela left a suicide note but did not state the reason behind his decision to commit suicide, adding that the deceased's body has been preserved at Mwananyamala Hospital mortuary in Kinondoni Municipality pending burial arrangements.

According to the RPC, the suicide note read in part: "Dear father and my relatives, don't bother yourselves trying to seek the cause of my death, I have decided to kill myself. Only God knows the reason. "No one should be blamed over my death, I have killed myself.

My friends, Mruma and Malima struggled to save my life but it was impossible. My relatives, stay in peace and love. Take my body to Ludewa so that I should be buried at my father's home, KassangaÉ May God forgive me." One of the students, who preferred anonymity, told 'Daily News' that for the last three days, before he committed suicide, Njelekela seemed to be depressed and that on Saturday they decided to take him to a clinic at Mabibo campus for medical treatment.

But, he said the doctor at Mabibo campus clinic suggested that he should be taken to Main campus clinic for further medical treatment where he had been admitted until Sunday afternoon. "After he was discharged, we took him back to his room, number 356 Block C on Mabibo campus," said the student, who was his classmate.

He said Njelekela disappeared from his room where he was taking a nap and they reported him missing at Mabibo and External police posts on Sunday evening. He further said Njelekela had no problems with his fellow students and that he was excelling in his studies.

The Temeke Region Police Commander (RPC), Englibert Kiondo, said in the city yesterday that the accident occurred at around 11:30am at Oilcom Service Station in Temeke Municipality. According to preliminary investigations, Athumani and his colleagues had gone to take a broken down vehicle owned by Rashid Nassor to a garage in Temeke.

Mr Kiondo said that as rains began to fall, they decided to hide under a trailer which later fell on them. "Athumani died on the way to Temeke hospital due to injuries sustained during the accident," said Mr Kiondo. His two colleagues who were also injured were rushed to the same hospital where Sylvester Elia is still admitted while Shabani Said has been discharged.