Harare – A cloud of grief hangs over Budiriro following the tragic death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was found hanged in the bathroom of her family’s lodgings on Friday morning. Alisha Simango, a Form One student, used a “zambia” cloth to take her own life, leaving her parents and neighbours reeling from the sudden and unexpected loss.
Alisha, the youngest of four siblings, is yet to be laid to rest as her mother has insisted on a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. The post-mortem is expected to be carried out this week.
The discovery of Alisha’s lifeless body was made by her father, Mr. Simango, who recounted the harrowing moment. “I was the first person to find her dead, and that’s when I called the others to come,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. “I still cannot believe what happened because there was no hint, whatsoever, that there was something troubling her.”
However, a glimpse into Alisha’s inner world was revealed through her personal diary, which painted a picture of a young girl grappling with mental health issues, heartbreak, and school-related problems. The diary entries, filled with raw emotion and vulnerability, suggest that Alisha had been struggling with her emotional well-being for some time.
In one poignant entry, Alisha wrote: “My name is Alisha. I was born in 2010, 9 June. Right now, as I am writing It is 2025, 14 March at night. I am 14 years old I don’t know who to trust any more with my secrets as a teen neighbour except for God the Lord whom I pray to.”
The diary entries further reveal the depth of Alisha’s emotional turmoil. “There is something going on in my life, school problems. I am in Form One and there is so much happening in my life every night. I am always crying I wish someone was just there to comfort me,” she wrote, her words echoing the silent struggles of many teenagers navigating the complexities of adolescence.
While Alisha touched on a number of issues troubling her in her diary, her biggest source of pain appeared to stem from her relationship with her school boyfriend, who is believed to be the son of a senior staff member at the school. She wrote of her heartbreak and betrayal, alleging that her boyfriend was “double crossing” her with another girl from the same school, a girl who had never liked her. The breaking point, according to her diary entries, was an alleged kissing incident that occurred on Wednesday.
Mr. Simango said he was completely unprepared for his daughter’s suicide, stating that he had not seen any signs that she was contemplating such a drastic act. He recounted her last moments alive, revealing a seemingly ordinary interaction that belied the inner turmoil she was experiencing.
“She had come to my room to heat water for bathing while preparing for school,” Mr. Simango said. “I then advised her to use the gas stove since the electric stove had a fault, but she then said she would bath using cold water. I then asked her to notify me when she was done bathing, but she did not get back until I dosed off, and when I woke up, I was surprised that my daughter had not come back to me as agreed, and that is when I went to the bathroom to get a bucket. I found my daughter dead.”
The grieving father also mentioned a recent conversation about school fees, suggesting that financial pressures may have also contributed to Alisha’s distress. “She came saying she wanted US$30 for school, but I told her I could only raise it on Saturday, and she would then be able to pay on Monday (today),” he explained. “On Thursday, she brought up the issue again, and I reiterated that I would give her on Saturday as previously indicated.”
While the lack of immediate funds for school fees may have added to Alisha’s worries, her diary entries suggest that the primary source of her distress was the emotional turmoil she was experiencing as a result of her relationship problems and other school-related issues.
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