HARARE - Marital bliss is under threat in Harare, where domestic violence cases have spiked — and this has something to do with sanctions — at least according to the police.

Fights breaking out in homes have become so frequent that police have gone on the alert and are on a massive campaign to end domestic violence.

The police commander in Harare, Clemence Munoriarwa, says at least nine couples are engaged in domestic fights everyday.

Addressing thousands of Epworth residents at a community policing campaign programme at the weekend, Munoriarwa said “innocent children” are suffering due to domestic violence, adding some cases had ended in death.

According Munoriarwa, 3 102 cases of domestic violence were reported to the police last year up from 2 438 in 2011.

“Please stop it! It is destroying our families. Children are suffering because of domestic violence. You are also burdening the police with more work at the same time destroying the cultural fibre in our society,” Munoriarwa said. “We don’t want violence of any nature in Harare.”

Munoriarwa said sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his close associates by Western countries are contributing to domestic violence.

“Sanctions and other economic ills that affect our country have contributed to domestic violence and prostitution,” he said.

“Companies have been closed due to sanctions, forcing mothers and fathers to fight at home due to lack of money. Our children have resorted to prostitution because there is no employment. They (sanctions) must go,” Munoriarwa said.

Turning to watershed elections set for this year, the police boss the 2008 violence should not be repeated. - Xolisani Ncube