By Tanaka John Marindire, Own Correspondent
Zimbabwe has been jolted by reports of suicides involving university students. The month of August, two university students at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) reportedly died due to suspected suicide, prompting grief and calls for action from peers and administrators. In May 2024, a final year student at Midlands State University (MSU) was found dead in Senga, Gweru where he resided. Police opened an investigation into a suspected suicide. Seven months earlier, in October 2023, a Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) student also died from suspected suicide by slitting his own throat.
These campus tragedies sit within a wider national picture, while comprehensive, up-to-date official statistics specific to universities are scarce, multiple indicators point to a worrying trend among the youth.
Why are tertiary institutions at particular risk? Multiple Zimbabwean studies helps to connect the dots. A 2024 qualitative study of university students’ views (MSU students in particular) described suicide as “multi-casual’’ citing academic pressure, relationship stress, financial strain, substance use and family conflicts often intensified by the transition to university life and stigma to seek psychological aid. During the COVID-19 period, researchers documented high levels of depression among university students, with suicidal ideation a significant concern
What the recent Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) cases tell us
The recent CUT tragedies highlight two important realities. First, suicidal ideations may be present without the obvious warning signs that people usually know, some students do signal distress but struggle to access sustained, appropriate care. Reports indicate one of the deceased students ‘’downed an unknown poison’’ and left a note that had a bank account which indicated that he was financial stable.
Campus communities often rally after such events, but the evidence is clear as prevention hinges on earlier identification, easy access to low-barrier support and also to help students with support after certain incidents have occurred to reduce contagion and help students grieve safely.
Structural barriers: stigma, awareness and access
A 2025 preprint surveying students in Harare tertiary institutions found low awareness and utilisations of campus mental- health services, with stigma, confidentiality concerns and uncertainty about to where to seek help. Through this survey students preferred confidential, youth friendly and digitally accessible options.
What works: Scalable, culturally grounded care
One of the organizations that deals with mental health Friendship Bench, pioneered evidence-based, scalable models, as they recruit university on work-related learning so that they can assist people who are facing mental challenges through the use of Problem-Solving Therapy (PST). Some work-related students are situated at university campuses so that they assist their peers.
Friendship Bench has been very pivotal in helping individuals who are facing mental health challenges, as their services are easily accessible (through WhatsApp, local clinics and some tertiary institution campuses) free of charge and their services are accessible in English, Shona and Ndebele.
Practical Steps that Tertiary Institutions can incorporate
- Adopt a suicide-prevention plan. This can be obtained by combining awareness campaigns, routine screening, staff training including lecturers.
- Expand access points. This can be achieved by partnering with other organizations.
- Tackle stigma head-on. This can be done by making students lead these campaigns and lived-experience speakers be able to share their stories and this can assist in normalizing help seeking attitude.
- Strengthen referral and Adapt. Collect anonymous utilization and outcome data to see what is working.
Tanaka John Marindire
Tanaka John Marindire is MSc in Counselling Psychology Graduate who is passionate about mebtal health issues. Here he writes in his own capacity.He can be contacted on email :marincejohn7@gmail.com Cell:263775571805
