News / Regional
'Women protect abusive husbands'
19 Feb 2015 at 08:29hrs | Views
TRADITIONAL leaders have raised concern over the increase in the withdrawal of cases of domestic violence by women in rural areas.
The traditional leaders said many women were protecting their abusive spouses thereby disturbing the justice delivery system.
Chief Bango of Mangwe District said some women were endangering themselves by pardoning criminals who commit serious offences.
"Victims are protecting lawless people and by so doing, they are promoting lawlessness in communities," he said.
A 24-year-old Plumtree woman recently withdrew charges against her violent 25-year-old husband who tried to murder her and her three-year-old daughter.
"It's unfortunate that our jurisdiction is only confined to solving disputes and not presiding over criminal offences. A number of women report cases of domestic violence but they later withdraw the charges.
"They start to feel pity for their spouses and can't stand the idea of them going to prison and they later drop the charges," said Chief Bango.
He said most women were forced to take this route as they relied on their spouses for their upkeep.
Chief Bango said others withdrew the charges after receiving death threats from their husbands.
He said it was wise for families with disputes to consider engaging community leaders and family elders before seeking legal action.
"It isn't good to see a family man going to prison while his children suffer in his absence. It's wise for families to consider solving their disputes through dialogue first.
"If that method doesn't work and the violence persists, then victims have to seek legal assistance. Once they take that route then there's no turning back," said Chief Bango.
He said the worst scenario was for women to conceal incidents of abuse.
Chief Masendu of Bulilima District said most cases of domestic violence that are kept as secrets end in tragedy.
He said crimes of violence had to be dealt with at an early stage.
"In cases where a man murders his wife, the process of assault would have started way back. It then becomes more intense. In most cases it would be petty issues that cause conflicts and they worsen as time goes on if they aren't dealt with urgently," said Chief Masendu.
He said women had to report cases of violence perpetrated against them either to relatives, community leaders or the police.
Sibusisiwe Ndebele recently filed a report against her abusive husband Prince Zikhali after he threatened to stab her and his three-year-old step daughter.
Ndebele had to struggle with her husband in order to disarm him of the knife he was holding.
Zikhali also reportedly threatened to commit suicide. His wife later withdrew the charges she had laid against him.
In another incident, a 35-year-old woman pleaded with the court to release her husband after he had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for assaulting her.
Anderson Moyo beat up his wife Sibonisiwe Ndlovu till she became unconscious for seeking a protection order against him.
Ndlovu shed tears after her husband was slapped with a jail sentence.
The traditional leaders said many women were protecting their abusive spouses thereby disturbing the justice delivery system.
Chief Bango of Mangwe District said some women were endangering themselves by pardoning criminals who commit serious offences.
"Victims are protecting lawless people and by so doing, they are promoting lawlessness in communities," he said.
A 24-year-old Plumtree woman recently withdrew charges against her violent 25-year-old husband who tried to murder her and her three-year-old daughter.
"It's unfortunate that our jurisdiction is only confined to solving disputes and not presiding over criminal offences. A number of women report cases of domestic violence but they later withdraw the charges.
"They start to feel pity for their spouses and can't stand the idea of them going to prison and they later drop the charges," said Chief Bango.
He said most women were forced to take this route as they relied on their spouses for their upkeep.
Chief Bango said others withdrew the charges after receiving death threats from their husbands.
He said it was wise for families with disputes to consider engaging community leaders and family elders before seeking legal action.
"It isn't good to see a family man going to prison while his children suffer in his absence. It's wise for families to consider solving their disputes through dialogue first.
He said the worst scenario was for women to conceal incidents of abuse.
Chief Masendu of Bulilima District said most cases of domestic violence that are kept as secrets end in tragedy.
He said crimes of violence had to be dealt with at an early stage.
"In cases where a man murders his wife, the process of assault would have started way back. It then becomes more intense. In most cases it would be petty issues that cause conflicts and they worsen as time goes on if they aren't dealt with urgently," said Chief Masendu.
He said women had to report cases of violence perpetrated against them either to relatives, community leaders or the police.
Sibusisiwe Ndebele recently filed a report against her abusive husband Prince Zikhali after he threatened to stab her and his three-year-old step daughter.
Ndebele had to struggle with her husband in order to disarm him of the knife he was holding.
Zikhali also reportedly threatened to commit suicide. His wife later withdrew the charges she had laid against him.
In another incident, a 35-year-old woman pleaded with the court to release her husband after he had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for assaulting her.
Anderson Moyo beat up his wife Sibonisiwe Ndlovu till she became unconscious for seeking a protection order against him.
Ndlovu shed tears after her husband was slapped with a jail sentence.
Source - chronicle
