Mutare Man Seeks Chief's Help After Alleged Three Years of Domestic Abuse

By Southerton Business Times | Mutare

A Mutare man has approached Chief Mutasa's community court seeking protection after alleging he has endured three years of physical abuse at the hands of his wife, in a case that has drawn attention to the often-overlooked issue of domestic violence against men in Zimbabwe. Lloyd Samanyanga told the traditional court that his wife, Dorcas Dzvairo, had repeatedly assaulted him with a wooden cooking stick since shortly after their marriage in 2023, leaving him with scars, bite marks and other injuries.

Appearing before Chief Mutasa with a visibly swollen face, Samanyanga said he had exhausted efforts to resolve the matter through both families before seeking intervention from the traditional leader.

"My wife is very abusive. Ever since I married her, I have never known peace. I sought help from my parents, and they tried talking to her, but nothing changed," he told the court.

"I also reported the matter to her parents, who intervened several times, but the assaults continued."

According to Samanyanga, he initially believed the marital conflict stemmed from the couple's struggles to conceive. However, he alleged that the violence persisted even after they later had a child.

He said his in-laws eventually arranged for the couple to consult a faith healer, who attributed the family's difficulties to spiritual causes and recommended traditional rituals.

"We were taken to a faith healer, who said my wife was not supposed to be married because she was spiritually married to a goblin. Her parents confirmed what the healer said," Samanyanga claimed.

"They were told there were traditional rituals that should have been performed before she got married. We followed that advice and, after that, she fell pregnant and we were later blessed with a child. But the beatings never stopped."

Samanyanga further alleged that some of the disputes were fuelled by rumours and comparisons made by his wife's friends. He also accused Dzvairo of excessive alcohol consumption, claiming it contributed to her alleged violent behaviour. He told the court that he had previously reported an alleged assault to Penhalonga Police Station but later withdrew the complaint in the hope of saving the marriage.

Dzvairo denied the allegations, accusing her husband and his relatives of conspiring to tarnish her reputation. She told the court that financial hardships were the primary source of tension in the marriage, alleging that Samanyanga had failed to adequately provide for the family. Dzvairo also claimed that the relationship had deteriorated significantly.

"It has now been two months since we last had sex," she said.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Chief Mutasa condemned domestic violence in all its forms and urged the couple to seek assistance through both family structures and the formal justice system.

"If there has been violence, it should be reported to the police. The law must be allowed to take its course while the families work towards resolving their differences," the traditional leader said.

Domestic violence remains a criminal offence in Zimbabwe under the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16], which provides protection for all victims regardless of gender. Authorities have consistently urged victims to report abuse to the police or seek protection orders through the courts.

Mutare man abused by wife