I met some elderly woman I hadn’t seen for decades at a restaurant at Kensington shops on Thursday morning. We had a very long conversation in which she revealed how her daughter was murdered and cut into pieces in Bulawayo.
I knew the daughter, a very progressive young woman who was economically empowered. The young woman was killed in the most barbaric way; which the old woman described as a savage murder.
The old lady tried getting a glimpse of her dead daughter, but was shocked to discover that the husband had already planned to cremate her without her knowledge.
“I protested saying that my other children had not arrived from overseas. It was such a traumatic experience.
“I picked bits of her flesh from the road and also realised her brain had been removed. Investigations were made, but authorities always came up with all sorts of stories. One of the dead woman’s daughters said she heard her father say he would kill their mother”.
The alleged foreign killer remains a free man. Domestic violence against women remains a major problem in Zimbabwe despite legislative safeguards adopted six years ago.
Although this young lady died long before enactment of this Act, it seems as though other laws are still taking precedence when prosecuting domestic violence cases.
This newspaper recently reported a story about a senior officer in the Zimbabwe Government Gorden Tsuro who was given bail following attempted murder of his wife Rosemary Charlie in Chitungwiza.
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This trial was initially supposed to be handled by Chitungwiza regional magistrate Temba Kuwanda, but for undisclosed reasons the matter was transferred to the Harare Regional Court.
Tsuro was recently remanded by regional magistrate William Bhila in chambers to his new trial date, September 28, and the State witnesses were instructed to attend court on that date.
This man made headlines after he allegedly attacked his wife, with an axe over a suspected domestic dispute.
He was charged with domestic violence by the police despite the serious injuries his wife had sustained. According to the State, the couple had a misunderstanding over documents for a residential stand and the argument resulted in a confrontation which nearly turned fatal.
It is alleged on the day in question, after the couple had supper, Tsuro retired to bed.
At around 20:40 hours, Charlie followed and found him still awake.
The State alleges Tsuro requested Charlie to give him a document of her residential stand which is under construction.
Charlie is said to have told Tsuro it was at her workplace, but he allegedly insisted he wanted it immediately.
Tsuro allegedly lifted the bed, drew an axe from underneath and ordered Charlie to sit down.
It is alleged Charlie complied and Tsuro lifted the axe intending to strike her in the head, but she blocked the axe with her arms and was struck in the palms in the process. Tsuro is also alleged to have used the axe and its handle to strike Charlie once in the head, several times on her legs and other parts of the body. That act has sadly been reduced to assault, a charge that makes justice for women a mockery to all peace-loving Zimbabweans. This is human life that would have been cut short had Charlie not covered her head to avoid injury to her head.
Domestic violence means any unlawful act, omission or behaviour which results in death or the direct infliction of physical, sexual or mental injury to any complainant by a respondent and includes the following: physical abuse; sexual abuse; (c) emotional, verbal and psychological abuse; ` (d) economic abuse; (e)intimidation; harassment; malicious damage to property and stalking. The list of violations is quite long.
Women should empower themselves and get a copy of the Domestic Violence Act so that they get a better understanding of the Act.
The Act stipulates that there shall be a section at every police station which shall, where practically possible, be staffed by at least one police officer with relevant expertise in domestic violence, victim friendly or other family-related matters; and information so that they read it and get to understand more about the Act.
The Act says police officers to whom a complaint of domestic violence is made or who investigate any such complaint shall— obtain for the complainant, or advise the complainant how to obtain, shelter or medical treatment, or assist the complainant in any other suitable way.
The police officer shall advise the complainant of the right to apply for relief under this Act and the right to lodge a criminal complaint.
A complainant who is not satisfied with the services of a police officer to whom he or she has reported a case of domestic violence shall have the right to register a complaint in accordance with any procedure prescribed for that purpose under section 19.
Unfortunately, not many women are aware about this Act and life under their abusive spouses continues unabated.
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