By Cynthia Guma
Harare, (New Ziana) — As cases of murder and suicides linked to murder rise across Zimbabwe, a silent crisis is unfolding: children left behind — unforeseen victims of violence — are forced to grapple with trauma, stigma, and uncertain futures.
When one parent is murdered and the other imprisoned, children lose both caregivers. In murder-suicide cases, they are orphaned in an instant.
Some witness the horrific violence that claims their parents’ lives, carrying trauma for years. Some children even fail to find relatives willing to look after them. Families may see them as extensions of the parent who killed their child or sibling, or of the parent whose actions led to suicide.
In the worst case scenario, the children themselves become victims of the violence in the home. On 21 September 2026, in Maisa Village, Zhombe, two minor boys — Shyne Tavatya (6) and Sean Tavatya (9) — died after their mother, Emily Takadii (23), allegedly poisoned them following a dispute with her husband over infidelity. She then ingested the same substance and remains in critical condition at Kwekwe District Hospital.
Just a day later, in Omeath Extension, Mvurwi, two-year old Prince Owen Mugari was allegedly killed by his stepfather, Kudakwashe Rangarirai (27). Rangarirai also seriously injured his 23-year old wife before ingesting poison himself.
He is hospitalized under police guard, while his wife is admitted in critical condition at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
In Harare, two children were left without parents after their Glen View 3 parents, Nyasha Mhungu (35) and Olga Muzhingi (30), were found dead in their bedroom on 23 September 2026 amid marital disputes. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Police have since expressed concern over the spate of such cases, noting five incidents in a single week that left several children without guardians.
National police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi urged couples to seek counselling and involve trusted third parties — traditional leaders, church leaders, or professional counsellors — when faced with domestic challenges.
Specialist psychiatrist at the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Dr Rukudzo Mwamuka explained that children exposed to parental homicide or suicide face elevated risks of complicated grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
“The trauma faced by these children disrupts attachment and increases vulnerability to emotional dysregulation and suicide,” she said.
Dr Mwamuka added that such children often develop substance use disorders, self-harm tendencies, and interpersonal aggression. Trauma can affect a child’s developing brain, particularly the areas responsible for emotional response and regulation, memory, and executive function. This can lead to hyper-vigilance, emotional numbing, and impaired empathy that may persist into adulthood, especially if no psycho-social support is offered early.
She stressed the importance of early intervention within days or weeks of the traumatic event, as it reduces risk, chronic PTSD, and functional impairment.
Without timely support, children risk mal-adaptive coping behaviours such as substance abuse, poor academic outcomes, and inter-generational transmission of trauma. “There is need for early individual therapy starting with grief counselling, then trauma-focused psychotherapy. It’s also important to include family therapy as it enhances resilience and social support with the remaining members of the family,” she said.
Clinical family therapist, Dr Clayton T. Choga says the family is a functional unit meant to provide emotional, physical, and financial support. When traumatic deaths occur, families are destabilized, often resorting to blame and speculation.
“Childhood trauma does not start soon after the death of their parents. Maybe they were exposed day in, day out — mom and daddy shouting or beating each other,” he explained.
Children left behind often face property grabbing by relatives, depriving them of inheritance. Dr Choga stressed the need for appointing a musarapavana (guardian) chosen by the children themselves, whether relative or trusted friend.
Stigma compounds their suffering. “Stigma among the children left behind can come from extended families, schools, and the community. They cry silently without being heard, are emotionally isolated, disengaged. It affects their mental growth, how they socialise with others because of fear from PTSD. They need professional counsellors,” he said.
Dr Choga also challenged harmful interpretations of Christian teaching. While Malachi 2:16 states that God hates divorce, Matthew 19:9 allows divorce in cases of infidelity. “Divorce by nature is not demonic,” he stressed. “From a clinical perspective, I encourage people to go their separate ways whilst in disagreements. Marriage is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.”
Community elder Tendai Zhanda of Chirau, Zvimba, Mashonaland West lamented that people today place more value on magistrates and judges than on traditional leaders. “Issues of infidelity used to be reported to chiefs, headmen, uncles and aunties so they could be addressed peacefully. Now that respect has eroded, families lose a vital mechanism for resolving disputes,” he said.
Zhanda warned that adopting Western culture and lifestyles — including watching violent films — have contributed to a culture where life is no longer valued. “In the past, people feared ngozi (the avenging spirit that afflicts those who kill). Today many ignore this aspect of our African culture, and violence within families has escalated as a result.”
He noted that unity within extended families has disintegrated, with jealousy replacing solidarity. He believes that aunties and uncles should reclaim their role as counsellors, visiting in-laws to offer guidance on marriage practices, and that pastors should teach couples how to pray, respect the sacredness of marriage, and build homes on love, respect, and loyalty.
Family disputes, he stressed, must be resolved peacefully — whether through dialogue, the intervention of a munyayi (go-between or intermediary) in customary marriages, counsellors, or, if necessary, the police. Failure to do so leaves children vulnerable and weighed down by ngozi throughout their lives should their parents commit murder.
Reflecting on cultural shifts, Zhanda noted: “Women of long ago accepted barika (polygamy) and were interested in building houses at the husband’s family village. Nowadays women prefer city life, reject barika, and do not want many children. Some men are unhappy about this change.”
He added that parents should invest in their children’s futures by acquiring rural land, building homesteads, and buying cattle. “These assets provide a safe space for children to live and sustain themselves if tragedy strikes,” Zhanda said.
Pastor Job Gogwe of the Apostolic Faith Mission, Glen View 3 Central Assembly, described these tragedies as deeply painful. “The children are disturbed, traumatized, shamed, with many unanswered questions,” he said. Quoting Psalm 27:10 — “When my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will take me up” — Pastor Gogwe emphasized the church’s role as surrogate parent. He urged communities to shield children from gossip, provide shelter, and remove shame.
Forgiveness, he added, is a process. “Children are pressured at funerals to accept and forget pain. However, forgiveness takes time. It is not the place of the person who wronged you to demand it.”
Citing Mark 11:25 and Romans 12:19, he reminded families that vengeance belongs to God. “The church stands as mediator, teacher, and protector. We provide hope, guidance, and emotional support, encouraging communities to seek help when faced with such problems.”
Domestic tragedies devastate families, but it is the children who bear the deepest scars. They face trauma, stigma, property disputes, and cultural dislocation. Experts, traditional leaders, and pastors agree: communities must prioritize children’s welfare, appoint guardians, secure inheritance, and provide counselling.
When parents are lost to violence, the children must not be lost too.
New Ziana
