A Gweru-based police officer, Constable Claude Jele, tragically took his own life after losing US$3,000 in a betting game known as “Kandege.” The borrowed money was reportedly lost in the Aviator online game, a popular but high-risk betting platform that has captivated many Zimbabweans.
Constable Jele, stationed at Development House in Gweru, consumed an unidentified poison on Sunday after losing the funds. He left behind a poignant suicide note detailing his despair and struggles. The note revealed his feelings of failure and resignation, as well as his hope that his family would forgive him for his decision.
“Having survived all these 38 years, I have reached a point where I feel like it’s all the same being on this earth or leaving,” Jele wrote. He urged his family not to blame anyone for his actions and expressed regret for the pain his decision would cause.
Jele’s sister, Ms. Siduhla Mwale, shared her heartbreak upon learning of her brother’s actions. “I was in Chinhoyi when I was told that my brother was admitted to the hospital. I made plans to come and found him in the Intensive Care Unit,” she said. Despite medical efforts, Jele succumbed to the poison.
