Nkulumane Panic as Man Climbs Floodlight in Suicide Bid
BULAWAYO – A dramatic rescue unfolded in Nkulumane 11 when a man identified only as Talent climbed a towering floodlight near the UCCSA church, threatening to end his life in full view of stunned residents.
The scene drew a crowd of horrified onlookers who watched helplessly as he teetered on the edge.
Some prayed, others pleaded, while emergency services raced against time to save him.
The incident occurred around 11a.m on October 18, prompting a swift response from the Bulawayo Fire Brigade.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the rescue, saying the man appeared emotionally unstable.
“We were called to rescue a man who was threatening to jump from a tower light in Nkulumane suburb.
“He appeared disoriented. We had to convince him not to jump and the crew went up to bring him down safely,” Moyo said.
He added that Talent was speaking incoherently about life’s hardships and feeling unloved.
“He was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for further management,” he said.
Witnesses told H-Metro that the man seemed confused and possibly under the influence of drugs or suffering from mental distress.
One resident said, “Some people claimed he was hallucinating from drug use and had escaped from those trying to take him to a mental facility.”
Another recalled a young man confronting him, shouting, “Talent, yekelani izinto elizinathayo!” (“Talent, stop drinking whatever you’ve been taking!”).
After the rescue, police and fire officials cordoned off the area to control the crowd.
Residents described the incident as one of the most disturbing spectacles ever witnessed in the suburb.
“We are still shaken. We just thank God the fire brigade came on time,” said a local vendor.
The episode comes amid a growing crisis of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, particularly among urban youth.
The Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) reports that nearly 60 percent of psychiatric admissions in public hospitals are linked to drug and alcohol abuse.
In response, the government has activated the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse, coordinated by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Police have also intensified efforts through Operation “No to Dangerous Drugs and Illicit Substances,” which has led to over 7,000 arrests by mid-2025.
Authorities warn that substances such as crystal meth (mutoriro), broncleer, and illegal cough syrups are wreaking havoc, with Bulawayo and Harare among the hardest-hit areas.
