Groom’s suicide just days before wedding shocks family
What was meant to be a week of celebration has turned into unbearable sorrow for the family of Chief Inspector Dhimbulukwa Vaino (39), who died by suicide last Saturday, just days before his planned wedding.
Vaino, a senior officer in the Namibian Police Force based in Windhoek, was found hanging in his sleeping room at his family homestead at Ashikumbwe, Oshikoto Region, around 08:30. The grim discovery was made by his sister. He was expected to announce his upcoming wedding at church the next day, with the ceremony set for Friday, 4 July.
Police confirmed no suicide note was found, and the motive remains unknown. The tragedy has left the family and community stunned and searching for answers.
Still trying to understand
A close family member, who requested anonymity, recounted the events leading up to Vaino’s death. “He went to the kraal with our father and other relatives. He took a rope from there, but we didn’t think anything of it. Later, he said he would only leave for town at 09:00. We now wonder if he meant something else.”
After showering upon his return from the kraal, he was later found lifeless in his room.
In the aftermath, the family has had to contend not only with their grief but also with hurtful online speculation. “People are making assumptions - saying he feared marriage or was pressured. None of it is true. His partner is also mourning. She doesn’t deserve this,” a relative said.
A dedicated public servant
Vaino was recently promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector. Those who knew him describe him as reserved, humble, and committed to his work.
His cousin, social justice activist Michael Amushelelo, was among the first to speak publicly about the tragedy. In an emotional social media post, Amushelelo mourned the loss and called for serious attention to mental health in Namibia.
“We speak about kindness, yet celebrate when others fall. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone,” he told Namibian Sun on Tuesday. “He was quiet. He didn’t share much. He had a conversation with his father that morning. But he never made it to Ondangwa.”
Amushelelo urged Namibians to normalise mental health support. “There’s too much pressure, especially on Black men. If we don’t begin to value therapy, we’ll continue to lose people who suffer in silence.”
Not the first time
The tragedy echoes a similar incident in December 2022, when 41-year-old Namibian Defence Force corporal Petrus Iiyambo died by suicide in his wedding suit on the day of his wedding. That incident took place at Onakatambili village in the Oshana Region.
Both cases have reignited urgent calls for the country to invest in mental health education and accessible support systems, particularly for men in uniform who face unique stressors.
As the Vaino family prepares to bury a loved one they were supposed to be celebrating this week, their message is simple but powerful: “Please be kind. And please listen when someone says they’re not okay.”
• If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline/Childline Namibia at 061 232221 or toll-free at 116. Help is available.
Vaino, a senior officer in the Namibian Police Force based in Windhoek, was found hanging in his sleeping room at his family homestead at Ashikumbwe, Oshikoto Region, around 08:30. The grim discovery was made by his sister. He was expected to announce his upcoming wedding at church the next day, with the ceremony set for Friday, 4 July.
Police confirmed no suicide note was found, and the motive remains unknown. The tragedy has left the family and community stunned and searching for answers.
Still trying to understand
A close family member, who requested anonymity, recounted the events leading up to Vaino’s death. “He went to the kraal with our father and other relatives. He took a rope from there, but we didn’t think anything of it. Later, he said he would only leave for town at 09:00. We now wonder if he meant something else.”
After showering upon his return from the kraal, he was later found lifeless in his room.
In the aftermath, the family has had to contend not only with their grief but also with hurtful online speculation. “People are making assumptions - saying he feared marriage or was pressured. None of it is true. His partner is also mourning. She doesn’t deserve this,” a relative said.
A dedicated public servant
Vaino was recently promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector. Those who knew him describe him as reserved, humble, and committed to his work.
His cousin, social justice activist Michael Amushelelo, was among the first to speak publicly about the tragedy. In an emotional social media post, Amushelelo mourned the loss and called for serious attention to mental health in Namibia.
“We speak about kindness, yet celebrate when others fall. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone,” he told Namibian Sun on Tuesday. “He was quiet. He didn’t share much. He had a conversation with his father that morning. But he never made it to Ondangwa.”
Amushelelo urged Namibians to normalise mental health support. “There’s too much pressure, especially on Black men. If we don’t begin to value therapy, we’ll continue to lose people who suffer in silence.”
Not the first time
The tragedy echoes a similar incident in December 2022, when 41-year-old Namibian Defence Force corporal Petrus Iiyambo died by suicide in his wedding suit on the day of his wedding. That incident took place at Onakatambili village in the Oshana Region.
Both cases have reignited urgent calls for the country to invest in mental health education and accessible support systems, particularly for men in uniform who face unique stressors.
As the Vaino family prepares to bury a loved one they were supposed to be celebrating this week, their message is simple but powerful: “Please be kind. And please listen when someone says they’re not okay.”
• If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline/Childline Namibia at 061 232221 or toll-free at 116. Help is available.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article