Online Reporter
The Herald, 30 April 1988
A MAN who attempted to murder his four children after his wife told him he was infertile, and who then assaulted his brother who tried to rescue them was yesterday jailed for three years.
Tapera Bernard Matanhire (40), pleaded not guilty before Chitungwiza provincial magistrate, Cde Cephas Sibanda, to attempting to murder his four children aged three, five, seven and nine. He also pleaded guilty to common assault against his brother.
The court heard that on April 1 this year, Matanhire had an argument with his wife in which she told him that he was infertile and the four children they had were not his. He beat her up and she went away leaving the children.
The children were left in the custody of his sister. On April 8 he came home, found them sleeping in his sister’s house, took them to the kitchen, locked them up and then set fire to the hut.
His brother was hit with an axe and sustained minor injuries when rescuing the children.
On the first count Matanhire was sentenced to three years and on the second, to two months which were to run concurrently with the first sentence.
Mr Harrison Nyamupaguma prosecuted.
Lessons for today:
The case shows how unresolved marital conflict and emotional distress can spiral into catastrophic violence when combined with anger and poor impulse control. Family disputes, if not managed constructively, can lead to tragic and irreversible consequences, especially when children are involved.
The children were innocent yet targeted as instruments of revenge against the wife. Children often suffer most in domestic conflicts. Society and institutions must prioritise child protection in family disputes.
The accused reacted violently after being told he was infertile, suggesting deep social stigma attached to male identity, fertility, and fatherhood. Rigid notions of masculinity and shame around infertility can fuel destructive behaviour if not addressed through education and counselling.
Our justice system treats crimes against children with seriousness. The court imposed a custodial sentence for attempted murder and assault. Crimes involving violence against children and attempts on human life are treated as grave offences deserving imprisonment, reinforcing the rule of law.
The brother’s intervention prevented the deaths of the children, despite personal injury.
Mental and emotional health were poorly addressed at the time The article reflects a period when domestic violence and psychological distress were largely handled through punishment rather than prevention or support.
