Harare Bureau
FOR months now, Zimbabwe has been gripped by a disturbing wave of intimate partner murders—killings carried out not by strangers or violent psychopaths, but by husbands and wives, often in acts of extraordinary brutality.
Spouses—husbands and wives, partners and parents—are turning on each other with a cruelty that shocks the conscience, leaving behind shattered families, orphaned children, and communities grieving in disbelief.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters in Chinhoyi yesterday, President Mnangagwa said he was gravely concerned by the growing number of marital crimes that have resulted in deaths.
“On the social and cultural development front, I am gravely concerned by the growing number of reported marital crimes which are resulting in the loss of lives. This is not who we are as the Zimbabwean people.
“I call for the restoration of family values and respect for the sanctity of life. SeMusangano weruzhinji rwevanhu veZimbabwe, ngatirambei tichikurudzira tsika nemagariro akanaka.”
For context, Zimbabwe recorded 7 061 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with physical abuse and domestic violence accounting for the highest number of reported offences at 3 505 cases. In homes that are supposed to be sanctuaries of love, peace and harmony, accusations of infidelity have triggered a wave of murders, including the recent high-profile killing of Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commissioner Dr Martin Muduva.
Muduva was murdered by his wife, Lyliosa Chirara, after she allegedly struck him three times with an axe before consuming rat poison.
Reports indicate the tragedy was triggered when she saw WhatsApp status updates of her husband’s secret traditional marriage ceremony to a second wife. Four children were left orphaned.
The cases read like a script from a horror movie. In Mukumbura, a 50-year-old man allegedly struck his wife with an axe following an infidelity dispute, killing her instantly.
In Harare, a man allegedly strangled his wife with a shoelace over similar allegations. In Shamva, a pregnant woman was murdered by her husband after being accused of an affair.
In Zhombe, a 23-year-old mother allegedly poisoned her two sons, aged six and nine, before ingesting the same substance herself amid an infidelity dispute with her husband.
In Mvurwi, a man allegedly killed his two-year-old stepson and critically injured his wife before attempting suicide.
In one Gokwe case, two juveniles witnessed their father strangle and stab their mother to death.
In a deadly three-day surge between September 21 and 23, 2026, police recorded five deaths and at least four serious injuries in domestic violence incidents, prompting an urgent national appeal.
Authorities have acknowledged the challenge. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi has expressed deep concern over the “sharp increase” in cases, urging couples to seek counselling and involve traditional leaders, church leaders, or professional counsellors before disputes escalate.
The National Prosecuting Authority has similarly called for peaceful resolution of domestic conflicts.
