By Chantelle Tatenda Muzanenhamo
Tarisai Musakanda, a 29 year old Zimbabwean cricketer, has been arrested on charges of attempted murder following a violent altercation with his wife, Tinodiwanashe Makunike.
Musakanda, who has not played for the national team in nearly two years, reportedly became involved in a violent confrontation with Makunike, leading to his arrest.
This incident adds to Musakanda’s troubled history, including a previous charge related to a fatal car accident in 2022.
Musakanda’s arrest underscores a troubling trend among Zimbabwean public figures, many of whom, like footballer Knowledge Musona, have been implicated in gender-based violence (GBV) allegations back in 2019.
Activists emphasize that such incidents reflect deeply rooted patriarchal norms in society that perpetuate violence against women.
As the legal process unfolds, there are calls for a broader conversation about GBV and the accountability of those in positions of influence, highlighting the urgent need for societal change to combat this pervasive issue. Even though the Government has declared GBV as a national disaster, the worrying statistics indicate the yawning gap between policy and what is happening on the ground