Marital disputes flood Zimbabwe courts

The courts were last year flooded with cases involving marital disputes, with a combined 110 707 people finding themselves before the courts over maintenance, child custody, domestic violence, divorces or peace orders.

Statistics from the High Court show that the highest number of cases were those seeking maintenance where 79 731 people, both males and female, approached the costs.

Matters of the heart saw 18 795 couples dragging each other before the courts over domestic violence, 795 for divorce, 3 751 over custody of children and 7 635 couples in need of peace orders.

Lawyer Mr Tendai Amon Toto said the high number of people in marriages seeking relief at the courts showed that people now have confidence in the police and the courts.

"The prevalence of domestic violence cases in our courts reflects the confidence of our communities in criminal policing and the dispensing of justice by the courts," he said.

"With regards to statistics, it shows that the courts are responsive to maintaining peace and tranquillity within the family unit and our communities at large. This brings harmony between spouses, sparing lots of time to be productive for their family."

Executive director of Musasa Project Ms Nettie Musanhu said the awareness campaigns against domestic violence over the years seemed to be paying dividends as many victims saw their cases through the courts.

"Due to awareness campaigns that we always carry, people now know that they can report their cases to the police and get results from our courts of law," she said.

"When most victims visit Musasa Project, they say that courts are unfriendly in terms of the environment, but with this number that was recorded, it shows people now have confidence in our courts.

"But implementation of the Domestic Violence Act still remains a major problem as patriarchal attitudes continue to hinder protection of women living in violent situations."

Ms Musanhu said in rural areas, courts were far away from those who required them, hence some end up staying at home and remaining mum about the abuse.

MDC-T legislator and women's rights activist Ms Jessie Majome commended the police, courts and the media for playing a crucial role in handling abuses in marital affairs.

"The number of reported cases is a good sign that people are now coming out and taking domestic issues up," she said.

"It is very commendable that courts managed to clear the cases."

Ms Majome emphasised the need for Government to implement the national gender-based violence strategy of 2012-2015, adding that people should properly understand what is going on by referring to statistics.