Another wave of grief has engulfed the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) after the death of one of its most vibrant students, Mclarian Chando, popularly known by his stage name DJ Killers. The 23-year-old Information Technology student succumbed to injuries sustained in a road accident in Chiredzi over the weekend, adding to a growing list of tragedies that have shaken the institution over the past year.
Chando’s passing comes barely a week after the university community buried another student, graduate Panashe Mwinga, who died in a car crash near Gwebi River while travelling to Harare with her family. The successive losses have left students, staff, and alumni grappling with a deep sense of shock, mourning, and frustration at what many describe as a pattern of preventable tragedies.
Chando, who was in Level 3:1 of his studies in Information Technology, was more than just an academic achiever. To his peers, he was a rising star in entertainment, bringing energy, laughter, and joy through his music. Known affectionately as DJ Killers, he had built a reputation as one of CUT’s most sought-after performers at social events, club nights, and campus gatherings.
Friends and colleagues recalled his ever-present smile and his ability to unite students from different walks of life through music. “He wasn’t just a DJ—he was the life of every party, the guy who made everyone feel included. His playlists carried us through some of our best memories at CUT,” said one close friend.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) described Chando as an inspiration to his peers. SRC Minister of Information and Publicity, Malvin Madanda, said his absence had created a void that could never be filled. “His presence was felt in every corner—not just in the classrooms but in the hearts of those he shared conversations, laughter, and dreams with. The CUT family is shattered,” Madanda said.
In honour of Chando’s memory, the university has declared a Black Monday, urging students and staff to wear black as a sign of unity and remembrance. The sombre gesture reflects the collective pain reverberating across campus. Vigils and prayer sessions are also being planned by student associations and faith groups, with many calling for a stronger culture of care and solidarity during these difficult times.
Chando’s death adds to a troubling list of tragedies that have rocked CUT within just nine months. In addition to Mwinga’s accident, two other students—Abraham Chabata and Takudzwa Mapurisa—took their own lives in separate incidents linked to mental health struggles earlier this year. Last November, another student, Tanatswa Chinyama, died after being hit by a car near campus.
These cumulative losses have sparked soul-searching within the CUT community about student safety, welfare, and the pressures confronting young people today. “We are grieving, but we must also ask hard questions,” said Madanda. “Are our roads safe? Are our students receiving the support they need to deal with stress, depression, and other mental health challenges? These tragedies show that we can’t just move on without addressing the underlying issues.”
CUT Mourns Again as Student DJ Dies in Road Accident, Sparking Calls for Road Safety and Mental Health Support
Students, parents, and alumni have increasingly urged authorities to strengthen road safety measures and invest in mental health support on campuses. Zimbabwe’s highways remain notorious for accidents caused by speeding, reckless driving, and poor road infrastructure, with young passengers often among the victims.
Mental health, too, has emerged as a critical concern. Experts warn that rising academic pressures, financial stress, and personal struggles are leaving many students vulnerable. The deaths of Chabata and Mapurisa highlighted how stigma around mental illness continues to prevent young people from seeking help in time.
CUT administration has responded by setting up counselling services and peer-support groups, though students argue that more must be done. “We need consistent, accessible mental health programmes—not just reactive measures after a tragedy,” one student leader said.
For now, grief overshadows everything at CUT. The loss of DJ Killers is being felt not just on campus but across Chinhoyi and beyond, where his music and personality had begun to make him a household name. Social media has been flooded with tributes, with many sharing photos, videos, and heartfelt messages in remembrance.
“He had big dreams. He wanted to make it in the music industry, and we all believed he could. It’s heartbreaking to think that we’ll never see him live that dream,” said another student.
As funeral arrangements are finalised, students and staff are preparing to bid farewell to a young man whose life, though short, left a powerful impact. His death, like those before it, has become part of a painful narrative for CUT—a story of promise interrupted, potential unrealised, and a community left searching for answers.The tragedies of the past year have forced CUT and other universities in Zimbabwe to confront the fragility of student life in a challenging environment. While the pain of loss cannot be erased, many hope that the repeated heartbreak will spark long-term changes in how institutions, families, and society support young people.
For now, however, the CUT community remains united in grief, dressing in black, lighting candles, and holding onto memories of Mclarian “DJ Killers” Chando—a beloved son, friend, and entertainer whose music and spirit will echo long after his final performance.
Source- Bulawayo24
