46-year-old ZESCO engineer reportedly commits suicide in Kasama

A 46-year-old ZESCO employee in Kasama has allegedly committed suicide after reportedly drinking an unknown chemical substance.

The deceased has been identified as Wesley Simwanza, a Chief Maintenance Engineer for the ZESCO Northern Region.

According to police, the incident happened between the evening of March 20, 2026, around 17:00 hours, and the morning of March 21, 2026, around 05:30 hours, at Chikumanino Compound in Kasama District of Northern Province.

The matter was reported by Peter Sichinga, a 36-year-old security officer at the Kasama regional ZESCO office.

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Police say that on March 20, Simwanza closed from work at the ZESCO regional office and was escorted home by a workmate. Simwanza lived alone.

The following morning, around 05:30 hours, a driver from the ZESCO office went to Simwanza’s house to pick him up for a work trip to Mansa.

He tried calling Simwanza, but the calls went unanswered. Around 07:00 hours, the maid arrived and opened the main door. When she entered the house, she noticed the bedroom door was open and found Simwanza lying on his bed with foam coming from his mouth.

Northern Province Police Commanding Officer, Simunji Mulonda, said the maid quickly informed the driver, who then notified the ZESCO office.

The matter was later reported to police, who inspected the body and observed burn injuries.

Mulonda said an inquiry had since been opened, and that the body had been deposited in the Kasama General Hospital mortuary awaiting burial.

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