By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Kariba – The usually quiet streets of Nyamhunga 3 have fallen into a hush, tinged with grief and disbelief, following the sudden and tragic death of 35-year-old Believe Chagwambare.
A familiar face in the neighborhood, Believe was found dead today in his home in what appears to have been a suicide.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain uncertain, but neighbors and family say he had been deeply affected by a recent separation from his wife, who had left their shared home two weeks earlier.
Although those close to him noticed he had become withdrawn, few imagined the depth of his despair.
“We became concerned when we hadn’t seen him for a while,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be named.
“He was always out and about, saying hello to people. It wasn’t like him to go quiet.”
Their concerns led to a heartbreaking discovery: Believe had taken his own life in the privacy of his bedroom. His body was found by neighbors who had gone to check on him after days of silence.
The news has rippled through Kariba, touching everyone who knew him. His brother, Rony Chagwambare, is still grappling with the shock.
“He was trying to fix things with his wife. He missed her, and he was hurting. But none of us thought it would end like this,” Rony said, holding back tears. “It’s left a hole we can’t begin to fill.”
Ward 4 Councillor Musa Maurid visited the family to offer condolences and took the moment to call for greater openness around mental health struggles.
“It’s heartbreaking. We must learn to talk about our problems — not just with professionals, but with each other. As a community, we must make it safe for people to say they’re not okay,” he said.
Believe’s death has opened up difficult but necessary conversations in the community about emotional well-being, particularly among men who often suffer in silence.
Leaders and residents alike are calling for more accessible support systems, counseling services, and a culture that encourages vulnerability instead of bottling things up.
“People think asking for help is weakness, but it’s not,” Councillor Maurid added. “We must start normalizing it. It could save lives.”
Believe’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem, as the community prepares to lay him to rest.
As neighbors light candles and gather around the Chagwambare home to offer comfort, one thing is clear — this loss has stirred a collective grief and a renewed sense of urgency to care for each other more intentionally.
“He was kind, gentle, and always smiling,” said a longtime neighbor. “We just wish he had known how much he mattered — and that he wasn’t alone.”
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