Domestic conflicts are the number one cause of homicides in Tanzania, according to the statistics from January to June 2026. 36 per cent of the homicides are from domestic conflicts, followed by 19 per cent, which are from vigilantism.
These statistics are sobering: places where there should be security can be insecure. UNODC data also show that many victims of intentional homicide in Tanzania were killed by an intimate partner or family member.
Data (2010 to 2015) from UNODC show that 43 per cent of the killings are by intimate partners. In intimate partner homicide, females are the most victims; for the same period, 66 per cent of the victims on average were females.
Killing intimate partners is not a new issue. However, there is a problem when some people on social media support these kinds of events.
This may result from bad experiences in intimate relationships. Showing that this kind of abuse is justified accelerates the problem and may affect the smallest economic unit, the family.
There are eight “ifs” in the theory of change of Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children. One is: “IF there are interventions to transform norms and values that promote VAWC.”
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The good thing is that the norms have been listed, and the plan acknowledges the widespread societal acceptance of abuse throughout Tanzania. It also recognises the normalisation of violence and the idea that violence is a family matter.
The complexity of the problem
Domestic abuse among intimate partners can become visible when partners are about to divorce or separate. By then, intimate feelings do not simply disappear; it is a process that takes time before someone decides to move on.
A strong family is needed; there should be no waiting for partners to separate. There should be efforts to create a good environment for everyone in intimate partnerships.
Before physical violence, there may be verbal abuse, which is emotional abuse. For the period from January to June 2026, 1,006 emotional-violence cases, classified as abusive language, were reported.
Dealing with emotional abuse may require fewer resources and may reduce physical abuse, which has caused deaths and left some people with lasting disabilities. At the same time, jailing someone or sentencing someone to death, by itself, does not tackle the problem.
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The strongest review of death-penalty research found that available studies could not establish whether capital punishment increases, reduces or has no effect on homicide rates. There is no reliable statistical basis for claiming a general deterrent benefit.
There is a need for a solution that will keep the family and remove abuse, making the family a safe place. Resources are available; there is just a need to encourage a culture of discussing issues instead of waiting for them to get worse.
The resource I recommend does not include relatives, who have traditionally been the place to discuss intimate and family issues in Tanzanian culture. Relatives may not be neutral ground for the issue; they are likely to take sides instead of solving it.
A safe environment
A safe space to discuss issues needs trust, credibility and ability. There are gender desks and other formal response services, but people may trust others, such as religious leaders, more than the desks.
I do not want to rely on religious leaders, as some people do not trust them. Some religious leaders may also lack the credibility to solve relationship issues.
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I recommend that the government use reputable people within communities to help solve verbal abuse. Community respect and experience may help, but the people chosen should be trusted, credible and able to remain neutral; age, marital status or social approval alone should not be treated as a qualification.
Once these people have been identified, they can be given training on helping people solve relationship issues. Their role should be to facilitate discussion when there is verbal or emotional abuse, and to refer people to formal support where there is danger, coercion or physical violence.
This will add to other interventions the government is undertaking on life skills, as explained in the NPA-VAWC. It may help reduce gender-based abuse, but it should never pressure anyone to remain in an abusive marriage or relationship.
People on social media who approve of gender-based abuse may have experienced abuse themselves and may have walked away without letting it become physical. That experience, however, cannot justify abuse against another person.
The change in economic relations has changed many other issues, and it has to be acknowledged. This is not the age of saying one should tolerate abuse to keep a marriage or relationship.
Neither is this the age of discriminating against people who divorce. However, there can be national efforts to remove all these issues while supporting the existence of safe families.
Francis Nyonzo is a Fulbright Alumnus, economist and theorist. He can be reached at francisnyonzo@gmail.com. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
