By Flata Kavinga
Zhombe Police Station officer-in-charge Stabrone Andrew Chedondo has urged couples to use tactical apologies and de-escalate arguments before disagreements escalate into domestic violence.
Speaking during the Midlands Provincial Family Cohesion Dialogue in Ngigeni, Zhombe Chedondo said spouses should be willing to compromise when they sensed that an argument was becoming heated, even when they believed they were in the right.
He said the priority should be preventing arguments from escalating into violence that could result in serious injuries or death.
“When there are disagreements between husband and wife, one of the two, who is normal, must compromise after sensing that the argument may degenerate into domestic violence,” Chedondo said.
“If it’s the husband, he must apologise and vice-versa to end the argument even when he or she is right. You need to compromise.”
Chedondo was speaking on the need for couples to manage conflicts before they become cases requiring police intervention.
He said spouses should pay attention to the direction and intensity of an argument and lower their tone or walk away when necessary to prevent the situation from turning violent.
“We need to avoid violence which may result in injury or death of the other,” he said.
Chedondo said the station was currently handling two domestic violence cases where, after their husbands were arrested, the wives reportedly brought food to the police station and sought to withdraw the cases.
He, however, warned that once police had opened a domestic violence docket, officers were required to follow the legal process.
“Once a docket on DVA has been opened, as police there is nothing that we can do but take you to court,” he said.families
He said this could result in additional financial and emotional costs for, particularly where parties later sought to have the matter withdrawn.
“This becomes an unnecessary expense. It also depends on the court to withdraw the case,” Chedondo said.
He urged couples to resolve disagreements peacefully before they resulted in violence or criminal proceedings.
“To avoid incurring unnecessary expenses and causing injuries to one another, just say sorry. An apology works better,” he said.
