Beitbridge – The Alpha Stands community in Beitbridge is in mourning following the tragic suicide of 42-year-old Marume Chinembiri, who was discovered hanging in his rented room. The circumstances surrounding his death, including a chilling message scrawled on the bedroom wall, have left residents deeply disturbed.
Officer commanding Beitbridge Chief Superintendent Ncube confirmed the incident, stating that Chinembiri was found suspended from the roof trusses by a brown belt, its buckle secured to a piece of wire. Apart from the marks left by the belt, there were no other visible injuries. Chinembiri’s body was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital Mortuary, and an inquest under RRB 6495961 has been opened to fully investigate the circumstances of his death.
While police have classified the case as a “tragic suicide,” many in Alpha suburb believe the story is more complex, involving a painful mix of betrayal, alcohol abuse, and heartbreak.
The haunting message left behind by Chinembiri, written on the wall of his bedroom, has become the focal point of the tragedy. In a cryptic confession, he wrote: “Ndabata message mufoni yemudzimai wangu nemunhu waanotorana naye saka ndatya kuti ndingasekwa nevanhu” (“I saw messages in my wife’s phone with the man she’s cheating with, and I’m afraid of being mocked.”)
The message was discovered by Chinembiri’s niece, Catherine Chinembiri (30), on the afternoon of October 23, 2025, in the same room where she found his lifeless body.
Chinembiri’s suicide is believed to have been triggered by his discovery of alleged infidelity on the part of his wife of 18 years, Magret Manyuchi. Residents say the couple’s marriage had been troubled for a long time, marked by accusations of infidelity and heated arguments. The breaking point, according to neighbours, came when Marume allegedly found incriminating messages on his wife’s phone and confirmed the identity of the other man through EcoCash.
A neighbour, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted the events leading up to the tragedy. “Marume confronted his wife after seeing the messages. They fought, and she packed her bags and moved out to Mashavire Township with the kids.”
Following the confrontation, Marume became increasingly withdrawn, spending his days drinking and aimlessly wandering around the neighbourhood, often muttering to himself. Some residents claim to have seen him scribbling on the wall a day before his death.
Repeated attempts to contact Manyuchi for her side of the story were unsuccessful, as she could not be reached on her mobile phone.
The couple’s daughter, Belinda, when contacted, declined to discuss the matter. “I can’t comment on issues I didn’t ask anyone to publish, my brother. Use whatever information you have,” she said curtly before ending the call.
Marume and Magret had been together for over 18 years and had more than three children. Their relationship was reportedly characterised by numerous separations and reconciliations over the years.
Those familiar with the family described Marume as a former boxer with a volatile temper. “He was no saint,” said one resident. “When drunk, he became a fighter, a drunken kick-boxer. Maybe the wife just got tired.”
Another neighbour revealed that the couple had distanced themselves from relatives due to Marume’s addiction to musombodiya (homemade spirit). “He stayed here in Beitbridge for seven years, and the wife only joined him recently after selling their land back home. They lived like strangers under one roof,” the source said.
While some locals expressed sympathy for Marume, others believe his violent tendencies and drinking problem ultimately drove his wife away. However, nearly everyone agrees that his death highlights a growing crisis of men silently struggling with betrayal, poverty, and addiction.
“There are many men who are dying silently,” said another resident. “Drugs, broken marriages and pride are killing them. They can’t talk about pain, so they end it all.”
Chinembiri had been living in Beitbridge for seven years, his wife only recently joining him after they sold their land back in their rural home. According to neighbours, they lived more like strangers than husband and wife.
The discovery of Chinembiri’s body was made by his niece, Catherine Chinembiri (30), who found him hanging from a brown belt tied to the roof trusses of his rented room. The belt was buckled onto a piece of wire.
Chief Supt Ncube urged residents to seek peaceful solutions when facing domestic turmoil. “We encourage people to engage third parties such as pastors, the police victim friendly unit, trusted friends and other community leaders.”
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