Lungisani Dube (27) of Lupane is suspected to have suffered a psychotic breakdown after he allegedly bashed his one-year-old daughter to death with a hammer, and left his wife and mother-in-law in critical condition. The attacks happened after Dube had come from a 5-day fast.Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Nyasha Masuka confirmed the attacks saying:
A man whom we suspect could have become mentally disturbed injured his family members, resulting in the child dying on the spot. He used a hammer to clobber each one of them and villagers had to apprehend and surrender him to the police. He suddenly started behaving strangely while at church and family had to leave church disturbed by his behaviour.
The patient has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or psychosis and has since been admitted at Ingutsheni Central Hospital where he is receiving treatment.
It is important for relatives and communities to take their relatives who develop signs of mental illness to a health facility urgently because some episodes can result in violence and can have sad consequences like what happened with this family
More: Chronicle
Back to top