‘What’s happened to us? Where did we get lost?’ Zimbabwe reckons with the reality of violence against women

Zimbabwe Grapples with Rising Violence Against Women Following Tragic Family Deaths

Wanderstayfinder.com – A devastating loss that began thousands of miles away in Britain has brought renewed attention to a persistent crisis at home. The deaths of Zandile Tshuma and her two young daughters have sparked widespread reflection across Zimbabwe about the roots of violence against women and the need for systemic change. While the family had built a life abroad, their return to the earth in Matabeleland has become a moment of collective reckoning.

A Family’s Journey Home

Last week, mourners gathered inside a Bulawayo church to honor three lives cut short. White coffins adorned with delicate lace and fresh flowers rested before the congregation. Unlike typical local customs where families view the deceased at home, the Tshuma family’s remains traveled across continents—from England to Zimbabwe’s second-largest city—before finding their final resting place at Luveve cemetery.

The tragedy unfolded on July 6 when Zandile, aged 42, her teenage daughter Natalie, and five-year-old Nala were discovered dead at their British residence. Natalie was known as an enthusiastic computer science student and emerging athlete, while Nala was remembered as a cheerful child full of life. Zandile herself worked as a financial data analyst, a professional who had achieved success in her field while living overseas.

Bedfordshire police confirmed that efforts are currently underway to bring a British-Zimbabwean man from South Africa back to the United Kingdom for questioning in connection with the murders. The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, but community members have expressed both grief and determination.

Community Shock and Solidarity

What struck many observers was the contrast between perception and reality. Zandile appeared to have everything—a stable career, education, and a comfortable life abroad—yet she too fell victim to familial violence. This realization challenged assumptions that such tragedies primarily affect women in lower-income communities.

Never Mpofu, 44, a neighbor who attended primary school alongside Zandile’s mother, shared his sorrow. “Zandile never really said if there were problems,” he explained. “Whenever she came home, she was happy to see her family, but now we can see the monsters are out here.”

The funeral service brought together extended family and community members. Theophilus Khumalo, an uncle of the victims, spoke of the family’s commitment to justice through peaceful means. “We will allow the law to take its course,” he declared. “We will not be drawn into anger or bitterness; we will not allow this tragedy to define us. Instead, we choose to honour their memory with grace, unity and unwavering faith in God’s justice.”

A Regional Crisis Unveiled

The Tshuma tragedy has illuminated statistics that have long concerned Zimbabwean communities. Globally, approximately 137 women and girls lose their lives each day to someone they know. The United Nations defines femicide as an intentional killing motivated by gender-related factors, driven fundamentally by discrimination and inequality.

While Zimbabwe lacks comprehensive femicide tracking, government figures reveal that nearly 40 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence. Between 12 and 25 percent of these women have endured sexual assault. Local organization Musasa documented over 30,000 gender-based violence incidents in 2024, while police records captured nearly 19,000 cases. The majority of these abuses occur within domestic settings.

The pandemic period proved particularly devastating, with gender-based violence surging by 60 percent during lockdowns when victims found themselves trapped with their abusers. Judith Ncube, minister of state for provincial affairs, highlighted that southern Matabeleland—the region bordering Bulawayo—exhibits the highest intimate partner violence rates in the nation.

“In the region of Matabeleland, it’s as if we take the silver medal,” Ncube remarked. “What has gone wrong, what’s happened to us, where did we get lost? In marriage, not everything is smooth, but it shouldn’t lead to death and a home of fear.”

Paths Toward Healing and Prevention

Community leaders are calling for comprehensive approaches to address the crisis. Ncube has proposed launching home-care programs that would engage community elders in proactive outreach, helping families navigate conflicts before they escalate. She emphasized the erosion of traditional support systems.

“Something has gone wrong in our social fabric: we no longer have aunts and uncles who are go-betweens in marriages,” Ncube observed. “We need to capacitate caregivers to be professional and sit down with our young people and talk. We have pastors that can help, too.”

Samkeliso Tshuma, founder of The Girls Table advocacy group, stressed the importance of education and mindset transformation. “We need people to renew their minds, because as long we have people who still think that there is a reason for a man to abuse a woman, then we have a long way to go,” she stated.

The community’s response extends beyond words. Social media campaigns are being mobilized to raise awareness about intimate partner violence and its impact on families and society. Courts in Bulawayo, already familiar with domestic violence cases, are preparing to handle increased caseloads as public discourse intensifies.

As Zimbabwe confronts this reality, the question remains whether the nation can transform grief into meaningful action. The white coffins that traveled across oceans carry not just three lives, but a message for a country determined to heal and protect its women and children.