N an apparent blend of arm-twisting and b lackmai l , an ex – soldier of Kabwe who tried to jump off a communication mast two years ago in Lusaka has threatened to do it again if his former employer, the Zambia Army, does not pay him his benefits. In an interview from Kabwe , retired staff sergeant Trywell Katukula said he will be travelling to Lusaka to seek a resolution of his demands.

He said life has become miserable after losing his job in 2012. “I am travelling to Lusaka this week to seek audience with the Army. It [payment of retirement dues] has remained an attended to for so long. If nothing works in my favour, then I will have no option but to kill myself.

“ I w i l l c l i m b t h e telecommunication tower again because I want to die on the spot and no one should come to my rescue. I have suffered enough,” Mr Katukula said. He wants his children to enjoy his benefits.

“It’s better I die and leave my children to enjoy my benefits. I know they will be able to sponsor themselves to school from that money. I am tired of life. I am struggling to put food on the table. “I am a bitter man. This time I am not even playing around. I am serious. I have reached an extent of not looking back,” he said.

In 2015, Mr Katukula, 47, drew the attention of scores of people in Lusaka, including the Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant- General Paul Mihova, when he climbed a communication mast in an apparent suicide attempt. He was later taken to Chainama Hospital for mental check-ups. And Zambia Police assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said they will monitor Mr Katukula’s movement whilst in Lusaka.

“As police our job is to save lives. We will closely monitor his movement whilst in Lusaka, thereafter, we will seek audience with him so that we know exactly what the problem is. “But apart from that, we can also urge him [Mr Katukula] to seek attention from relevant authorities so that his plight can be attended to. We can’t afford to lose a life in such a way, his case is something which needs to be studied,” he said.