In a heartbreaking incident that has stunned the Highfield community, a 32-year-old Presbyterian church treasurer was found dead on Monday after leaving a note saying he was overwhelmed by financial pressures totalling US$600.
Taurai Mukotsanjera, who also served as the church’s youth coordinator, was discovered hanging from an avocado tree, having reportedly used a vehicle fan belt. His death left relatives, friends and fellow congregants struggling to comprehend how someone described as warm and cheerful could be driven to such despair over what many viewed as a modest debt.
His 74-year-old mother, Petronella Mukotsanjera, expressed deep sorrow, saying she doubted the debt alone led to his decision. “Taurai andirwadzisa (he hurts me),” she said tearfully. “I do not believe it was just the debt that troubled him. If he had shared his problems, I would have done everything possible to help him.”
She described their close relationship and said the family would have sought a solution together, even if they had lacked the immediate funds.
Members of the Presbyterian congregation remembered him as a committed church worker who routinely arrived early to prepare for services and stayed behind after youth programmes to ensure the children returned home safely. “We have lost a bright spirit who cared deeply,” one member said. “Taurai was loving and joyful, and his dedication to the young people in this community was exceptional.”
Community members also highlighted his devotion to his seven-year-old daughter, who lives with a disability.
“He never complained,” a family acquaintance said. “He carried her, took her to therapy and worked various jobs to cover her medication. For him to leave her behind, his distress must have been overwhelming.”
Reports indicate that Mukotsanjera had been facing mounting financial strain. His vehicle, which he used to transport schoolchildren, had broken down, and he had reportedly taken a loan to contribute to a cousin’s funeral expenses.
A neighbour said the pressure from the lender had intensified in recent days, with repeated phone calls demanding repayment. “He stopped answering his phone towards the end,” the neighbour added.
A family source said he had taken on the funeral costs out of a sense of cultural duty, believing he would manage to repay the loan. On the evening before his death, he was seen at a local shebeen — something neighbours described as out of character.
“He did not drink alcohol,” one patron recalled. “He came in, bought a beer for a woman named Letty, spoke briefly and left. Now people are wondering if that was his farewell.”
His body was taken to the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination. He is survived by his wife and young daughter.
If you or someone you know is experiencing overwhelming emotional distress, consider reaching out to trusted family members, community leaders or local health professionals. Support is available, and seeking help can make a meaningful difference.
