The recent tragic incident involving a Zimbabwean man who chose to end his life on Facebook Live after discovering his partner’s infidelity serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of making someone else the center of your universe.
Scrolling through the comments on various platforms, flooded with condolences and RIP messages, it’s disheartening to see how our society has become quick to mourn such acts. Yet, in traditional African culture, suicide was not met with tears at the funeral. It was seen as an act of cowardice, not worthy of honor. Those who took their own lives were often buried outside the village or in the forest, far from the community’s embrace.
Our ancestors faced immense hardships, yet they clung to life tenaciously. Even in the face of war, poverty, and suffering, they persevered. Today, in conflict zones like Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, Congo, and Sudan, people fight tooth and nail to survive. The decision of a grown man, blessed with a life many would envy, to end it all over a relationship betrayal seems selfish and senseless.
The narrative of mental health is often invoked to rationalize such actions, but it’s important to distinguish between genuine mental health struggles and impulsive reactions to personal challenges. While mental health issues are real and should be addressed with empathy and support, using them to justify irresponsible behavior only cheapens the discourse.
There’s a lesson to be learned here: resilience in the face of adversity. Instead of glorifying weakness and self-destructive tendencies, we should promote strength, perseverance, and self-reliance. It’s a matter of learning from the hardships of our ancestors and understanding that life’s challenges are inevitable, but how we respond to them defines our character.
Ultimately, it’s a choice: to learn from our struggles and emerge stronger, or to succumb to despair and self-pity. Let us not forget the resilience of those who came before us, nor undermine the value of life by romanticizing tragic endings. Instead, let us honor their memory by embracing life, facing challenges head-on, and finding meaning and purpose beyond fleeting relationships.
In a world where instant gratification and shallow connections abound, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But it’s in times of adversity that our true strength is revealed. So let us choose to learn from this tragedy, lest we perish in our own folly.
This picture of this Zimbabwean brother who unalived himself on Facebook live, drinking a coke laced with poison,because he found out his woman was cheating on him, should serve as a reminder that never make a woman the centre of your universe
But going through the comments on… pic.twitter.com/CjRcDBAsfG
— 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒕 𝑶𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 (@Shadaya_Knight) March 25, 2024
