News / National
Zimbabwe's murder and divorce figure figures as 'frightening and scary' - judge
25 Jan 2012 at 05:30hrs | Views
THE country last year saw an increase in divorce cases with 1 551 recorded compared to 1 216 in 2010, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha said. 395 murder cases were committed last year alone compared to 386 in 2010.
The country also witnessed a general increase in other cases like murder, robbery and child abuse during the same period under review.
Officially opening the Gweru High Court Circuit yesterday, Justice Kamocha attributed the increase in divorce cases to distant relationships and youths who rush into marriage before getting to know their partners.
"On the civil side, a disturbing trend is developing in divorce cases. More and more homes are breaking down. In the year 2010, the High Court in Harare received 783 divorce cases while the High Court in Bulawayo received 433 cases," said Justice Kamocha.
Justice Kamocha said the causes of the breakdown of marriages differed but most of them were mainly due to rushed marriages and partners who leave their spouses to seek greener pastures in distant countries.
Turning to murder cases, which mainly dominate the High Courts in the country, Justice Kamocha said 395 murder cases were committed last year alone compared to 386 in 2010.
He described the murder figures as "frightening and scary".
"The number of murder cases that are being brought to court is alarming. The High Court in Bulawayo and its circuit courts received 204 murder cases in 2010. The figure dropped slightly to 181 last year. The High Court in Harare and its circuit courts witnessed cases rising from 182 the year before to 214 last year. This is indeed a disturbing trend for the country," said Justice Kamocha.
"The total number of people killed in the country in 2010 was 386 and the number rose to 395 last year. These figures are too high for a country like ours. It is scary to think that at least 395 people or even more will die this year not from natural causes or Judge laments increase in divorce cases other disasters but will unlawfully be killed by their fellow men."
The High Court Judge said the trend revealed that respect for human life within communities continued to diminish while a culture was developing where man turned against man to seriously injure or kill at the slightest provocation.
In the communal and resettlement areas, Justice Kamocha said people hit each other with logs, stools, chop each other with axes and hoes as well as stab each other with knives and spears.
The country also witnessed a general increase in other cases like murder, robbery and child abuse during the same period under review.
Officially opening the Gweru High Court Circuit yesterday, Justice Kamocha attributed the increase in divorce cases to distant relationships and youths who rush into marriage before getting to know their partners.
"On the civil side, a disturbing trend is developing in divorce cases. More and more homes are breaking down. In the year 2010, the High Court in Harare received 783 divorce cases while the High Court in Bulawayo received 433 cases," said Justice Kamocha.
Justice Kamocha said the causes of the breakdown of marriages differed but most of them were mainly due to rushed marriages and partners who leave their spouses to seek greener pastures in distant countries.
He described the murder figures as "frightening and scary".
"The number of murder cases that are being brought to court is alarming. The High Court in Bulawayo and its circuit courts received 204 murder cases in 2010. The figure dropped slightly to 181 last year. The High Court in Harare and its circuit courts witnessed cases rising from 182 the year before to 214 last year. This is indeed a disturbing trend for the country," said Justice Kamocha.
"The total number of people killed in the country in 2010 was 386 and the number rose to 395 last year. These figures are too high for a country like ours. It is scary to think that at least 395 people or even more will die this year not from natural causes or Judge laments increase in divorce cases other disasters but will unlawfully be killed by their fellow men."
The High Court Judge said the trend revealed that respect for human life within communities continued to diminish while a culture was developing where man turned against man to seriously injure or kill at the slightest provocation.
In the communal and resettlement areas, Justice Kamocha said people hit each other with logs, stools, chop each other with axes and hoes as well as stab each other with knives and spears.
Source - TH
