Psychiatric patient on the rampage

SAMUEL NJINGA IN  MASVINGO

A 32-year-old psychiatric patient from Mwenezi district in Masvingo Province, Zondai Murove,  went berserk last week, killing his mentally challenged brother and hanged himself following a dispute over medication.

ZRP Masvingo Provincial spokesperson, Kudakwashe Dhewa, said the brothers had a misunderstanding on Friday afternoon after the elder brother said he did not want to go to Neshuro District hospital to collect his medication.

“It is purported that the younger brother, Zondai then took a rope and used it to tie Tawedzegwa,” Dhewa told Business Times.

He added: “It is further implied that the two later on agreed to escort each other to Neshuro district hospital in the evening to collect Tawedzegwa’s medication.

“While they were on their way to the district hospital all hell broke loose with Zondai choosing to tie his brother with a rope onto a nearby tree, picking up a heavy wooden log that he used to beat his brother on the head several times until he bled profusely and subsequently died.

“It is suspected that after this incident, and probably out of guilty conscience, Zondai pulled the deceased`s body into a nearby church building where it was kept for the whole night only to be discovered in a pool of blood the following morning after a thorough search by community members.

“After murdering his brother, Zondai is said to have gone back home and collected a rope without being noticed and hanged himself that night only to be discovered the following morning on Saturday by a neighbour.”

Dhewa said the ZRP was concerned about the surge in homicide cases in the province being perpetrated by psychiatric patients.

“We need to sit down with stakeholders and probe the root cause of this syndrome. This has become an issue of great concern,” he said.

Legal experts note that dealing with issues to do with psychiatric patients were somehow cumbersome as they have rights enshrined in the universal declarations.

They argue that legally, if a person with mental health issues is incarcerated on criminal charges, he or she can be hospitalised for up to 60 days for treatment, during which time he or she will be examined to see if competent to stand trial.

Masvingo-based human rights lawyer Martin Mureri said there was need for government intervention.

“Apart from the fact that there is a high rate of drug abuse by some of these patients, the economic situation has a major contribution towards people becoming psychiatric,” Mureri said, adding that people are “depressed and stressed”.

“The government must make sure that it has provided enough medication for these patients. It is one of the obligations of a government to fulfill this mandate.”

Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital medical superintendent Dr Parirenyatwa Maramba said the major problem that confronts most hospitals  was medication.

“Once the medication is not regularly taken by the patient there are some adverse effects that are detrimental to someone`s health.

“There is also a need for good social support from those who reside with the patient. Those staying with the patient must regularly monitor the patient so as to make sure that he or she has got adequate intake of the medication.

Masvingo provincial medical director Armadeus Shamu urged all those who might be residing with such kind of patients not to take it upon themselves to keep them but bring them to the medical fraternity for attention.

“As the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we don`t go about recruiting patients.

“All that we are encouraging is for members of the public to report such cases to the Zimbabwe Republic Police who can come to the homes to collect these patients for hospital care,” Shamu said.

Recent studies carried out found that a chronic brain disorder called schizophrenia is associated with a seven-fold increase in the rate of homicide convictions in the world.

Individuals with schizophrenia are said to be approximately 20 times more likely to commit homicide than the general population.

It is further said people who have homicidal ideation are at higher risk of other psychopathology than the normal population.

This includes suicidal ideation, psychosis, delirium, or intoxication. It is also asserted that these patients have an increased risk of committing violent acts such as homicide.