A PETTY disagreement over a 50 ngwee coin has ended in a heartbreak, after a 14-year-old boy from Nyakuluma village in Petauke District took his life in a moment of rage and despair.
The incident occurred between 10:30 and 11:00 hours on Saturday.
According to reports, the teenager, identified as Osina Mwanza had accompanied his mother and his 5-year-old sister, to their family garden that morning to water crops.
Before they began, Mwanza gave his sister a 50 ngwee coin to keep for him.
Hours later as they wrapped up their work, Mwanza asked for the coin back but the sister had lost it.
This news deeply upset him and in a fit of anger and frustration, he lashed out and began beating his younger sister.
Their mother quickly stepped in to stop him from beating his sister and promised to give him K5 when they got home, but he was still upset and decided to walk away without saying anything, and never came back.
Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba revealed that as time passed, the teenager’s mother grew worried and started searching nearby for him.
Mweemba disclosed that the mother eventually discovered her son hanging from a tree located approximately 100 meters away from their garden, confirming the tragic outcome of the search.
“The mother called for help and the community rushed to the scene. He was removed from the tree and later a report was made to police,” Mweemba said.
“Officers who visited the scene observed that there were no signs of foul play, and as a result, relatives were advised to proceed with burial arrangements.”
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba September 23, 2025
