An investigation into causes of domestic violence among young spouses in Mabvuku, Harare, Zimbabwe

Harmony in marriage is critical to the well-being of family and society. The family is the mainstay of society and the nation. When it is plagued with violence and abuse, the whole society is fragmented and in desperate need of healing.Domestic violence causes traumatized families and leaves a broken society which consequently breeds nations that are overwhelmed by grief or frustration. Harmony in spousal life should be prioritized for the comfort of its members and society at large. Young Christian couples in Mabvuku frequently resort to physical violence when faced with seemingly irreconcilable differences. Instead of amicably uniting and resolving together, facing the challenges as a combined force, some spouses blame each other for the situation before them. In such disputes, domestic violence often erupts. Several young spouses seem to be unable to resolve conflict harmoniously without resorting to violence. Others seem to be unskilled enough to devise methods and strategies that are anti-violence. These Christian young couples seem to have one remedy to spousal conflict, violence-like someone with only a harmer, treats every problem like a nail. Every week, 5-10 cases of domestic violence are reported to the Mabvuku police station, (Shiri, 2024) It is a tragedy to assume that because spouses live together, they instinctively know and understand each other. Those who claim to be Christians will never know how to worship until they know how to love God and each other. Love is of God. The unconverted heart cannot originate nor produce this plant of heavenly growth, which lives and flourishes only where Christ reigns, (Pipim, 2007). Although domestic violence has become a global threat and a lot has been said about the vice, this paper is specifically centered on young Christian couples in the Mabvuku Community where rare studies have been conducted yet.