A quiet rural village in the Otjozondjupa Region has been left reeling after the unexpected death of a 19-year-old student, Zenotjiuonga Tjatjitua, who reportedly took his own life on Monday afternoon.
Tjatjitua, a student at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, had returned to his home village of Otjijere for a short break, as he reportedly had no scheduled classes during the week. According to a police statement released by Otjozondjupa Regional Police spokesperson, Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha, the young man had arrived home on Friday, 25 July, and had been assisting with regular household tasks over the weekend.
Family members said there were no visible signs that he was struggling emotionally or mentally, and he had not voiced any personal concerns. “He seemed fine and was helping around the homestead as usual,” one relative told investigators.
However, on Monday around 17h00, Tjatjitua left the house and headed into a nearby wooded area, reportedly to carry out some chores. When he failed to return after a long time, his uncle became concerned and went in search of him. Following the young man’s shoe prints into the bush, he was devastated to find his nephew’s lifeless body hanging from a tree.
The police say there is no evidence of foul play, and no suicide note was discovered at the scene. The family has since been informed, and the investigation is being treated as a suspected suicide.
The incident has once again raised concerns about mental health awareness, especially among the youth in rural communities where access to support services remains limited.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, please contact a mental health professional or reach out to a local support centre. Help is available.
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