Rising domestic violence worrisome

DOMESTIC violence cases recorded so far in Manicaland indicate an alarming increase while some have ended tragically with victims losing their lives.

This form of abuse can manifest in different forms such as name- calling or putdowns, keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends, withholding money, stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job, actual or threatened physical harm, sexual assault, stalking and intimidation.

At the end of last year records with the police showed that more than 40 000 cases of domestic violence were recorded in the country from January to September that year which means that close to 150 people were being abused daily in Zimbabwe.

Despite the fact that more people are opening up and reporting abuse to the police, domestic violence is increasing exponentially and something must be done to arrest it.

Elsewhere in this issue we carry a disturbing story in which a three- year- old girl had to watch her father brutally stab her mother to death with a knife because of an apparently flimsy misunderstanding which could have been solved amicably had the couple sobered up and conducted a roundtable.

The husband is now before the courts facing murder.

His wife is no more.

The little girl is stranded at the moment because all her parents are no longer with her.

This innocent soul now has to endure the difficulties of living with another family just because of a small quarrel that turned tragic.

If convicted of the offence, her father might not see her for a long time.

At the end of the day, this sorry incident is now affecting innocent people.

Basic sociology states that when a devi- ant behaviour keeps cropping up in society, it means that the punishments and remedies that have been put in place by society to curb the same behaviour are not effective.

In simple terms, our courts must descend heavily on perpetrators of domestic violence because it is destroying the very fabric on which society is built.

The family unit is important and it must be preserved. Those found on the wrong side of the law must be given deterrent sentences which will stop would- be offenders from abusing their partners or family members.

This violence is not being perpetrated by men only but it’s being committed by women as well.

We have heard of stories whereby women pour hot water or cooking oil on their partners over a simple misunder- standing.

Studies have shown that the bulk of these cases are a result of infidelity which results in the breakdown of many marriages. Yes, we are in the 21st century but we believe that our family unit can be still strengthened.

Senior members in society should take back their roles and impart important knowledge to youngsters on how to behave in society.

Moral decadence has taken centre stage and if we leave this issue unsolved we won’t be able to put out the flames in future.

Law enforcement agents must do their job and arrest those perpetrating domestic violence.

The courts must also play ball and punish heavily those found wanting in order to send the right signal.

As it stands, perpetrators of domestic violence are having a field day; they need to have their wings clipped before we lose another life.

We don’t want casualties.