Controversial social media personality Tawona Shadaya has claimed that the recent wave of reports about deaths linked to relationships and marriages is part of a deliberate agenda to make marriage look bleak.
The self-proclaimed anti-feminist made the remarks in a post on Friday, just a day after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a warning over a surge in murder, attempted murder and suicide cases arising from domestic disputes.
In his post, Shadaya argued that mainstream and social media are magnifying a few tragic cases.
“Lately all you hear about relationships and marriages is death. This is what is all over mainstream media and social media. This isn’t by accident; it’s intentional. To evoke emotions, to incite fear, to make relationships and marriages look bleak,” he wrote.
“What happens is they take those few cases of tragedies and magnify them, to make it look as if that’s the true representation of relationships and marriages.”
He claimed there is a “war against marriage” being waged through ideologies like feminism, arguing that those behind such ideologies are opposed to healthy families and therefore “denigrate relationships and marriages every chance they get”.
“They will report the tragic stories only but never the successful stories. Because they have an agenda,” he said.
Shadaya added that while some people fail at relationships, many others succeed.
“There are relationships and marriages where people have been with each other, standing by each other, through thick and thin. Relationships and marriages where two people have built each other up. Where two people have built a family, as God intended.”
He urged followers not to be frightened by what they read: “Don’t always look at the negative stories; look around you, you will see amazing love stories. Be inspired by those and choose not to be scared by the things you read. Love each other.”
His comments come after the ZRP said on 24 September 2026 it was concerned about an increase in cases involving couples and family members that had resulted in loss of life and serious injuries.
In a statement, police detailed five separate incidents recorded between 21 and 23 September:
In Maisa Village, Zhombe, on 21 September, Emily Takadii, 23, allegedly had a misunderstanding with her husband over infidelity allegations. Police say she allegedly gave a poisonous substance to her two sons, Shyne Tavatya, 6, and Sean Tavatya, 9, before ingesting the same substance. The two children died upon admission at Kwekwe District Hospital, while their mother is in a critical condition at the same hospital.
In Glen View 3, Harare, Nyasha Mhungu, 35, and Olga Muzhingi, 30, who were reportedly experiencing marital disputes, were found dead in their bedroom on 23 September. Police say investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
At Marowa Village, Mukumbura, on 22 September, Robert Tashinga, 50, allegedly struck his wife, Nollent Sinosi, 36, with an axe following a misunderstanding over infidelity allegations. The victim died at the scene and the suspect reportedly fled.
In Omeath Extension, Mvurwi, also on 22 September, police arrested Kudakwashe Rangarirai, 27, in connection with murder and attempted murder. He allegedly killed his two-year-old stepson, Prince Owen Mugari, and seriously injured his 23-year-old wife. Police said he later ingested a poisonous substance and is admitted at Mvurwi Hospital, while his wife is in a critical condition at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
In Nyamhunga, Kariba, Emmanuel Mpofu, 33, was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly severely assaulting his 25-year-old wife over infidelity allegations. She is receiving treatment at Kariba Hospital.
The ZRP has urged couples and families to seek peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences, and to involve trusted third parties, including traditional leaders, church leaders and professional counsellors when faced with marital or domestic challenges.
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