Farai Dziva| In a shocking and tragic incident, a 31-year-old Mutare woman killed herself and her son as she could no longer cope with the biting economic challenges.

The woman killed herself and her son by putting rat poison into their food.

Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident in an interview with NewsDay on Tuesday.

Inspector Kakohwa told the publication that Sheilla Mamera was found dead on Friday morning together with her 12-year-old son, Fidelis Mamera, a Grade 5 pupil.

The bodies were discovered by one of her children who reported the matter to Marymount Police Station.

“There was also a suicide note which said she had killed herself due to economic hardships, but she did not say which economic hardships.

A sachet of rat poison was found at the scene,” police said.