The ManicaPost
DOMESTIC violence is a global problem that haunts the governments of most nations. According to the World Health Organisation, about 38 percent of murders of women are committed by their partners. In Zimbabwe, this form of violence is wreaking havoc on numerous families on a daily basis and it is apparently on the increase. While
re-launching the Zimbabwe Republic Police Service Charter in Mutare’s Dangamvura high-density suburb recently, Officer Commanding Mutare Central District Chief Superintendent Winston Muzah said police were worried by the rate at which couples were fighting in the full glare of children at home.
He said marriages were being broken along the way and children were feeling the pinch of these fights.
He said many people were getting killed and there was urgent need for couples to radically change how they relate to each other for the better.
By definition, domestic violence is also referred to as domestic abuse, battering, spousal abuse, dating violence, family violence and intimate partner violence. It occurs when a partner in an intimate relationship abuses the other.
Such relationships include marriage, cohabitation, dating or within a family set-up.
The abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual. Such abuse can even lead to the death of the person on whom that violence is being inflicted.
“Domestic violence cases are on the increase. Husbands are battering their wives in front of children, while women are attacking men with boiling cooking oil. These are not new things that I am telling you because you are witnessing them in the neighbourhood. We urge couples to seek advice whenever they disagree. Before you fight each other you must put in mind the plight of your children,” said Chief Supt Muzah.
Last week, a Mutare man made headlines after allegedly petrol-bombing his in-laws’ house following a domestic fallout with his wife.
Valuable assets were burnt in the process and occupants escaped death by a whisker as they fled the house using a back door.
This was a dispute between two people – husband and wife – but it ended up endangering the lives of strangers who had nothing to do with the quarrel.
No one really understands what drove Victor Magorokosho to go haywire and start the fire, but the incident was as devastating as it was regrettable.
This squares well with the Rusape incident in which a woman allegedly burnt her daughter to death as well as setting herself and two other children on fire following a domestic dispute.
An innocent child lost her life for a cause she does not know. Her siblings who are lucky to be alive are nursing the burns.
Her husband was also burnt in the ensuing flame as he tried to rescue the family. The incident left villagers in Nezambe under Chief Makoni speechless as they failed to understand how the woman would kill her own family.
The root of that domestic dispute was alleged to be a mere $30.
When such things happen, ending domestic violence is a core priority.
According to the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (2011), domestic violence is widespread and is one of the main violations of human rights and a hindrance to gender equality in the country.
In 2009, Zimbabwe lost about $2 billion due to gender-based violence.
In the same year, Government reported that half of the murders being perpetrated in the country were a result of domestic violence.
Cde Oppah Muchinguri, who was the Minister for Women’s Affairs then, said 60 percent of the murder cases brought before the courts in the country were a result of domestic violence.
She also said one in three Zimbabweans were in an abusive marital relationship.
“The magnitude of gender-based violence is both frightening and shocking and the statistics are proof enough as to why we need domestic violence legislation,” she said.
In February this year, Cde Muchinguri called for more action to stop domestic violence.
She said there was need for individuals to commit themselves to changing their attitude and perception of gender violence.
According to Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Victim Friendly Unit cases of domestic violence had increased from 1 940 in 2008 to 10 871 in 2012.
Various reasons have been proffered as to the high prevalence of domestic violence. Members of the public who were interviewed said the high prevalence was a result of alcohol abuse and prevailing harsh economic conditions.
Some said younger couples were not getting enough counselling prior to getting married hence they were starting families without proper knowledge on how they should conduct themselves in a marital set-up.
Some said stiffer legislation has to be put in place to dissuade partners who batter each other.
“Long back it was unheard of for a man to beat up his wife or vice-versa. Yes, we had incidences, but they were very few. When we grew up I never witnessed my father beating up my mother and up to this day I see it as unacceptable to do so because I was brought up like that. People are badly abusing alcohol these days and other substances that impair their thinking. This often results in quarrels at home which at times become physical.
“Instead of knowing how to handle drunken husbands, some women become aggressive and turn violent,” said Mrs Lenah Chirawa from Sakubva.
She said it was difficult to teach old dogs new tricks and thus Government must come up with punitive measures to deal with perpetrators of domestic violence.
“The only way to dissuade couples from beating each other is to ensure that anyone who transgresses is heavily punished. There is need to sacrifice a few in order to send the right message to the majority so as to enforce behavioural change,” she said.
