Online Reporter
Zimbabwe is grappling with increased domestic violence deaths and there is an urgent need to find a lasting solution.
It seems people no longer respect the sanctity of life hence the increased domestic violence deaths. Couples are killing each other leaving behind orphans and as society we have to get to the root cause of this disturbing trend.
What quickly comes to mind is the recent death of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Commissioner Engineer Martin Muduva who was allegedly axed by his wife Ms Lyliosa Chirara who then took her own life.
The tragedy was triggered by among other issues, Commissioner Muduva’s decision to pay lobola for his second wife Ms Patience Mangwiro.
The latest case of a couple that died following domestic violence is that of Mr Nyasha Mhungu and wife Ms Olga Muzhingi who were found dead in their bedroom in Glen View suburb, Harare on Wednesday.
Nyasha is reported to have stumbled upon some love messages in Olga’s cellphone on Tuesday leading to their fight. Both were then found dead in their bedroom the following day.
In another case of domestic violence, a police officer, sergeant Portia Dzanwa was shot dead by her husband Pharaoh Dombodzvuku who later shot and injured himself as he attempted to commit suicide.
Another domestic violence case involving a Zimbabwean couple which was domiciled in the United Kingdom that made international headlines is that of Ndodana Mhkanyisi Tshuma who alleged killed his wife Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Natalie and Nala.
It seems Zimbabweans are exporting their violence to countries such as the United Kingdom where many Zimbabwean women have been killed by their partners over the years.
It is against this disturbing development that we welcome Government‘s decision to re-operationalise the Anti-Domestic Violence Council and the women’s rights group’s call for urgent and adequate resourcing of the council.
Government re-operationalised the council last week and we believe this was in response to the increased domestic violence cases that have claimed many lives. Most of the victims of domestic violence are women though in some few cases men have also been victims.
We totally agree with the Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) that Zimbabwe has strong legal framework for preventing and responding to domestic violence but these laws need to be supported by effective institutions.
We therefore commend Government for re-operationalising the Anti-Domestic Violence Council.
The council’s mandate is to keep domestic violence under constant review, disseminate information, raise public awareness, promote the establishment of safe houses and provide regular reports to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
We however, need to point out that the problem of domestic violence demands that community leaders such as councillors, traditional leaders, churches, women’s rights groups and Government unite to fight this monster which threatening the fabric of Zimbabwean society.
No matter the offence, nobody has a right to take a life. When couples realise that their differences are irreconcilable, they should just walk out of the marriage instead of resorting to violence as what we are witnessing these days.
This culture of violence should be nipped in the bud starting at family level if marriages are to be saved.
