adminCASES of jilted lovers harassing their former partners have been on the increase in our country.
A number of weak and insecure men turn to drama when they are ditched by their lovers.
Some women do the same as well.
Research has also shown that some men become weak once they are ditched.
A number of these jilted men can’t move on, or accept reality, when it’s finally over.
Some of them have been arrested for committing crimes of passion while others are now in jail serving lengthy sentences.
Others have committed suicide after being dumped by their lovers, which is really sad and unfortunate.
Such cases happen at a time when we are advocating for counselling or dialogue when partnerships are shaking.
In fact, the marriage institution is not for the faint-hearted but for mature people, who can stand its trials and tribulations.
July was indeed a bad month for jilted lovers, judging by the cases we ran during the period.
One of the worst cases involved a Chitungwiza man, who set himself on fire, after his estranged wife told him she was going to ditch him for another man.
He threatened to kill her at her father’s house where she had sought refuge.
During the fracas, which took place at his in-laws’ house, he doused himself with petrol before setting himself on fire.
The man was only served by neighbours who took him to Chitungwiza Hospital where he is battling for his life.
All this drama started after the man was advised it was over between him and his estranged wife.
Instead of resorting to dialogue, the 44-year-old decided to end his life for the sake of love.
This was a clear sign of desperation, which this man demonstrated this week, which ended him in hospital and lucky to remain alive.
It’s clear the man was suicidal and violent, which prompted his wife to run away from him.
He, however, demonstrated his weakness by attempting suicide at his in-laws’ household.
As we have indicated in previous editions of this newspaper, love is not worth dying for.
As the people’s paper, we always advise those in rocky relationships to seek professional counselling.
Once counselling fails, we also urge parties to give each other space while mulling the way forward.
When the relationship is no longer working, calling it quits is the only solution we preach.
People should not stay in toxic relationships, which has fueled gender-based violence.
We also advise couples to leave room for disappointment when they enter into these unions as people, by nature, are very unpredictable.
A rise in the number of divorce cases at the High Court of Zimbabwe is a general reminder that all is not always well in the marriage institution.
You can’t force someone to love you if they don’t want to.
And, you can’t kill someone, or yourself, if that is the case.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter