EDITORIAL COMMENT: Zero tolerance to domestic violence critical

1105-1-1-DOMESTIC 1Domestic violence is a social vice that Zimbabwe is grappling with as cases involving both male and female victims continue to be reported despite the awareness campaigns.

The courts are clogged with such cases and in light of this, we concur with Justice Tawanda Chitapi’s call on society to play a leading role in the elimination of domestic violence.

“Our society should graduate into adopting a zero tolerance for domestic violence. This is the only way that domestic violence can be eliminated if not reduced to negligible levels.”

Justice Chitapi made the remarks while sentencing a Kuwadzana woman, Mitchel Chiteure, to an effective two-year jail term after convicting her of killing her husband, Denver Chitsungo, in a poverty-induced brawl.

It is sad to note that domestic violence has in the last few years taken many forms from a mere spat in the home, exchange of words between two people to blows, injuries that have resulted in fatalities over the years.

Statistics from the police show that killings and murders owing to domestic violence are on the rise.

With no stereotypical perpetrator of abuse, as was the case before when men were on the forefront, the whole matrix of domestic violence is showing fissures and information gaps that need to be addressed for the country to win the war against the scourge.

Yes, the majority of Zimbabweans are now aware of the consequences of domestic violence as was the case in the two that resulted in the death of Chitsungo.

Sadly perpetrators of violence are not using the information, to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence if events on the ground are anything to write home about.

From 753BC, during the reign of Romulus in Rome, where wife beating was accepted and condoned under The Laws of Chastisement, which gave husbands absolute rights to physically discipline their wives, times have indeed changed.

Women are now also pummelling men in the same measures, resulting in serious injuries and even death of the victims.

While it is clear that dynamics on domestic violence have shifted in terms of the perpetrators, programmes continue sending same messages that depict women as victims and men as perpetrators.

Domestic violence has traditionally been understood as a crime perpetrated by domineering men against defenceless women. However, research has found that men and women perpetrate domestic violence in the same rates.

Even our local media reports and police statistics are pointing to an increase in the number of women who are now abusing their male counterparts, although men by ratio have the highest populace of aggressors.

The erosion of the passive female stereotype is likely to result in more women being charged, convicted of domestic violence, which might also result in the conviction rates for women, who stand accused of perpetrating what they campaign against — going up.

Justice Chitapi is right when he says it is fallacy that the tide can be tamed by the courts. Society, through the family nucleus and other affiliate groups like clubs, churches and other social cohorts should condemn violence at all levels.

Every single person can take action to create awareness on the dangers of domestic violence and possibly take personal responsibility not to be involved in it, no matter how sticky the situation might be.

There is a societal responsibility to teach accountability to young people and help them understand that arguments do not necessarily have to end in physical fights.

If anything, society should be advocating tolerance rather than violence and educating people that it is quite honourable to walk away than engage in brawls that could result in injuries or loss of lives.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey