via 2 414 bashed men cry out for help | The Herald December 19, 2015
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter—
The tables have now turned in the history of family disputes as at least 2 414 men this year swallowed their pride and approached the magistrates’ courts suing for domestic violence. Domestic violence was believed to be a crime against women, but statistics from the courts show that men are also being battered in the home and are now gathering courage to approach the courts for recourse.
Although women still dominate as victims of domestic violence, men are also exercising their right to protection of the law by reporting their abusive wives. Between January and November, at least 2 414 men approached the family court complaining of domestic violence.
During the same period, 6 510 women sued men for domestic violence, leaving the number of domestic violence cases handled by the courts countrywide at 8 924. From January to December last year, magistrates’ courts received 2 538 applications from men, while women filed 6 916 cases, leaving the total number of domestic violence cases at 9 454.
This year’s statistics show that although people with disabilities were the least affected, more men in that category were suffering compared to women. This year, five men with disabilities appeared in court as victims of domestic violence, while one woman sued.
Last year, more women with disabilities were subjected to domestic violence as compared to men in that category. The courts last year recorded that 21 women with disabilities went to court as victims of violence, while no men officially complained of domestic violence.
Legal expert and social commentator Mr Wellington Pasipanodya said reality was now coming out and men in Zimbabwe have been covering up the violence. “Males in Zimbabwe have an ‘alpha’ image they portray and as such sometimes it is seen as an embarrassment for men to be seen reporting to the police complaining about domestic violence. It is therefore commendable that over 2 000 men were brave enough to approach the authorities for protection.”
To that end, Mr Pasipanodya said a wrong impression had been created over the past years that women were the only ones subjected to domestic violence. “The statistics show that about two in five of all victims of domestic violence are men, contradicting the widespread impression that it is almost always women who are left battered and bruised.
“Statistics on domestic violence show that the number of men attacked by wives or girlfriends is much higher than thought. The shock is particularly induced by the fact that domestic violence is often seen as a female victim-male perpetrator problem. But the evidence demonstrates that this is a false picture.”
Speaking at International Human Rights Day commemorations in Chitungwiza on Thursday, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged women to desist from beating up their spouses. This followed remarks by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs Minister Miriam Chikukwa that women were being subjected to domestic violence.
Minister Chikukwa warned men against beating their wives. “Men, it is not your right to beat up women in the home. Make sure your rights do not violate other people’s rights. Domestic violence must end,” said Minister Chikukwa.
Another lawyer Ms Tambudzai Gonese of Lunga Gonese Attorneys said men have always been silent victims of domestic violence. She added that changes in socialisation are helping men to gain courage to report domestic violence cases.
“Men also suffer from domestic violence, but have traditionally kept quiet due to gender stereotype. At least, men are now coming forward because of the changes in socialisation that have recognised that men can suffer just as much as women,” said Ms Gonese.
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