WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE

Talent Gore

WOMEN’S groups, analysts, psychologists and social commentators have bemoaned the rise in CRIMES OF PASSION in the country.

This follows the tragic death of Samantha Dzapata, who was shot dead by her estranged boyfriend, Tafadzwa “Boss Pango” Murengwa, on Friday.

They said nothing justifies one to kill a person they claim to love.

There has been a spike in tragic cases of lovers killing, or assaulting each other, over alleged infidelity and betrayal, in the past few months.

Since Samantha’s sickening murder, many people have been relating their experiences with abusers on social media.

In an attempt to understand why people kill those they claim to love in cold blood, Talk Show Host and Women’s Activist, Farirai Mamombe, said maturity played an important role in relationships.

“I think maturity plays a part in love and relationships because, no matter how old you get, you will fall in love.

“If you are mature enough when something happens, or when a person breaks up with you, you know how to react because you are mature. 

“You will think of the consequences of your actions before you do anything.

“Many times, people suffer in silence in relationships because you don’t want society to know what is happening in your life and, as such, you will end up taking drastic decisions on your own,” said Mamombe.

She indicated that most relationships faced issues related to jealousy, insecurity, lack of communication and lack of willingness to compromise, resulting in violence.

“Sometimes it is simply cowardice, certainly everyone makes mistakes, but there must never be any justification for violence.”

Mamombe urged women to leave abusive relationships in the early stages.

“What is sad about the Samantha Dzapata story is that she had told the guy that she doesn’t want to be in a relationship with him anymore. 

“She even got him arrested, but he was adamant and kept harassing her.

“This is exactly what women go through most of the time and it’s very unfortunate that even after being arrested, Tafadzwa still continued to abuse her until he killed her.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear that Samantha was just playing along to Tafadzwa’s gestures so that she can get rid of him gradually.”

Women’s Action Group director, Edna Masiyiwa, said women should leave abusive relationships at the first sign of abuse.

“Crimes of passion are becoming rampant in our society and it’s unfortunate that women are always at the receiving end,” she said.

“This latest case of a guy who shot his girlfriend and went on to commit suicide is very sad. 

“The most heart-breaking part is that the woman had walked away from the relationship, but the guy just didn’t accept it.

“Maybe, she saw that the man was violent from the word go, but she couldn’t leave because of his violent nature. 

“These are some of the things that women are going through.”

Masiyiwa urged women to speak up against abuse before they were harmed. 

Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) called on police to treat cases of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls as a matter of urgency.

“We are concerned about increasing violence against women and girls and the reaction in detecting, investigating and resolving cases of such violence within households and communities,” the organisation said.

“Therefore, we call upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to accelerate their response mechanisms in detecting, investigating, and bringing to justice cases of violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.

“In the current Zimbabwean context, the gravity of violence against women is deepening, with the majority of the recent cases disturbingly resulting in loss of lives of women, and violating their fundamental human right to life guaranteed by the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”