Zambian musician commits suicide, citing marital infidelity
Zambian musician Nathan Mithi reportedly took his own life, accusing his wife, Sabby Phiri, of infidelity. Mithi, a member of the well-known music group Ghetto Link, was laid to rest on December 14, 2023.
In a detailed suicide note posted on his Facebook account, Mithi expressed the painful challenges in his marriage with Phiri, alleging her involvement in infidelity, deception, and a desire for a luxurious lifestyle.
The note, which served as a farewell message, revealed Mithi’s despair over the situation, stating, “If you are seeing this, then I am probably DEAD! Ati ‘I need space’ kansi ah nyegesa kunja (however, she is sleeping around). Don’t skip but learn from me. Sabby, you are the reason for my death.”
Mithi went on to recount distressing incidents, claiming to have caught his wife engaging in intimate acts with other men on their marital bed. This included encounters with a young relative and a landlord, whom he insulted in the post. The note concluded with Mithi explaining that he took his own life because he could no longer endure the distress caused by the alleged actions of his wife, whom he professed to have loved deeply.
“But, simultaneously, it represented genuine love for me. My belief in love has diminished; she is the only woman I see in my life.
“Hence, if I cannot be with her, then let me find peace in death,” Mithi expressed.
He emphasized that he had left Sabby with five children, three of his own and two from different fathers. Expressing uncertainty about their paternity, Mithi advised her to enjoy life and party heartily, cautioning that her time was approaching. He concluded by dismissing any positive outcomes from her association with someone referred to as Dodx.
However, on Saturday, Phiri contradicted her late husband’s suicide note in a post titled “Beyond the accusations: The unseen reality of my story.” She refuted the accusations of infidelity, asserting that she endured spousal abuse throughout their marriage. Phiri attributed her husband’s death not to the alleged infidelity but to overwhelming debt, which significantly contributed to his sleepless nights and internal turmoil.
“Behind closed doors, I carried the burden of persistent wife battering, a painful truth hidden for too long. It is essential to uncover the concealed layers of our story, obscured by accusations and social media narratives,” she revealed.
“It pains me to be implicated in my late husband’s tragic decision when, in reality, his struggles extended far beyond our personal conflicts. An overwhelming burden he faced was an insurmountable amount of debt, significantly contributing to his sleepless nights and inner turmoil.
Moreover, I found myself entangled in a web of blackmail, coerced into silence about the abuse I endured. Threats of tarnishing my reputation and the ultimate ultimatum—’I will end my life and besmirch your name’—haunted me into keeping my suffering veiled.”
Continuing her narrative, she expressed, “When I reached a breaking point and sought liberation from this cycle of torment, he revealed the bombshell he had concealed for so long. I’m not seeking justification, merely shedding light on the complexities that plagued our relationship.
The people closest to me, witnesses to the truth I’ve endured, stand as testaments to the trials I faced behind the façade of social media perceptions. Their support and validation remind me that the truth, though obscured, is evident to those who truly know the reality I lived through.”
Phiri pleaded with the public, urging those sharing her late husband’s story to desist, while seeking empathy, understanding, and acknowledgment that the truth transcends the surface-level perceptions painted by external circumstances. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the complexities beneath the surface and called for a more nuanced understanding of the challenges she faced in her relationship.