Musasa Raises Alarm Over Femicide and Filicide Cases, Calls for Urgent Action

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

The Musasa Project has called for urgent action to address violence against women and children, warning that recent cases of femicide and filicide have highlighted the need for stronger prevention measures, improved survivor support and greater community involvement.

In a statement issued on 5 August 2026, the gender-based violence organisation expressed concern over several recent killings reported in Zimbabwe and abroad, saying every life lost should serve as a call to strengthen efforts to prevent violence before it turns fatal. Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, while filicide is the killing of a child by a parent, step-parent or parental figure.

The organisation extended its condolences to families affected by the reported cases and urged authorities and communities to act decisively.

"Every case of femicide is more than a personal tragedy. It is a reminder that violence escalated to its deadliest outcome. These deaths demand more than public outrage. They demand urgent action," Musasa said.

The organisation said violence against women and children should never be normalised or excused and called for stronger protection systems to safeguard those at risk.

Musasa's statement follows several high-profile cases that have drawn national and international attention. Among them are a case in Bulawayo, where police are investigating the deaths of a man and two children, allegedly involving a family member, and another in Kadoma, where a man was arrested following the alleged killing of his wife and pregnant daughter. The organisation also referenced the arrest of Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a Zimbabwean-British national accused of killing his wife and two daughters in the United Kingdom before being arrested in South Africa. Musasa said such incidents demonstrate the devastating impact of violence on families and communities.

The organisation urged Government institutions, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, religious organisations and civil society groups to work together to prevent gender-based violence.

It called for:

• Stronger protection mechanisms for women and children.

• Improved access to survivor support services.

• Early identification of warning signs of violence.

• Community education to challenge harmful gender norms.

• Greater collaboration between families, traditional leaders, police, social services and civil society.

Musasa also appealed to journalists and media organisations to report cases of femicide and filicide responsibly.

The organisation warned against reporting that sensationalises, romanticises or normalises violence.

"Every woman has the right to live free from violence. Every child has the right to grow up in safety. These rights must be protected not only through strong laws and effective services, but through a collective commitment to reject violence in all its forms."

Musasa said it remains committed to supporting survivors of gender-based violence while working with communities to promote safer environments where women and children can live free from fear.

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