68 suicide-related deaths alarm East police chief
By a Correspondent
SIXTY-EIGHT people have committed suicide in Eastern Province this year, police have reported.
Eastern Province commissioner of police Robertson Mweemba said the actual number might be higher as some cases had not been reported.
Mweemba said the figures announced were recorded between January 1 and July 24 this year.
He said among the victims nine were women and three juveniles.
Mweemba said of the 56 men, one was a teacher.
“Investigations have revealed additional suspected cases of suicide. In addition to the confirmed case of Richard Shumba, aged 44, a teacher from the Katopola area who took his life on June 12th, 2025, two other teachers are believed to have died by suicide, one in Chipata and another in Petauke,” he said.
Mweemba said Sinda District had recorded the highest number of 12, followed by Petauke with 11.
“Lundazi with eight, Chama with seven, Katete with six and Chipata and Mambwe with five each,” he said.
Mweemba said Nyimba and Chadiza had recorded four cases each, while Vubwi had three, with Chasefu recording two and Mwami Police Post one.
He said the situation was worrying.
“To lose people in such a manner, especially considering that the year is only halfway through. It is sad and a lot more need to be done. The situation is not inspiring at all,” Mweemba said.
He urged individuals to seek peaceful resolutions to their problems instead of taking their own lives.
“We need to help our people embrace dialogue. Couples and individuals need to seek health experts in counselling. We cannot continue to lose life in this way. Sixty-eight lives lost in less than seven months, this is too much a number,” he said.
