A worrying trend is unfolding across Zimbabwe’s families as newly released divorce statistics reveal a sharp rise in marital dissolutions. The Besana Mail went on the ground to find answers to the one of usually not asked question – what this surge could mean for the children in these families.
According to the latest figures from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), nearly 4 000 divorce applications were filed in 2025, marking a 27 percent increase from the previous year’s 3 138 filings. Yet surprisingly, completed divorces declined by 15 percent, a sign that the High Court is struggling to keep up with a mounting caseload even as marriages increasingly come under strain.
The spike in divorce applications has been most pronounced in cities like Harare and Bulawayo, where economic hardship, social pressures, and changing gender roles are intensifying marital tensions. Harare alone saw filings rise from around 1 939 to 2 386 last year, while Bulawayo experienced an increase from 754 to 1 052 cases.
Despite the high number of filings, the decline in completed divorces underscores judicial bottlenecks, with the High Court facing a growing backlog that leaves many couples, and especially their children, in prolonged legal limbo.
Legal experts and social commentators point to a confluence of factors driving the trend, including economic stress, frequent labour migration, infidelity, poor communication, gender-based violence (GBV) and the erosion of traditional family supports. Many also link the rise to increased legal awareness and improved access to justice, particularly for women, who are more empowered today to seek legal remedies like divorce when marriages break down.
Psychologists and family counsellors warn that although divorce can be a necessary escape from environments marked by abuse or chronic conflict, it often brings with it a suite of emotional, educational, and social challenges for minors.
“Children who witness the deterioration of family bonds, particularly in homes where arguments, mistrust or violence are present, may experience anxiety, depression, or behavioural problems. The process of divorce itself can exacerbate feelings of instability or rejection, especially if children perceive themselves as the cause of familial breakdown,” said Michelle Gumbo, a family counsellor.
Gumbo hints that, this can be worse if parental conflict continues post-separation.
Transitions between parental homes, especially in shared custody arrangements, can disrupt children’s routines and sense of security. Frequent moves, changes in school environments, and varying household rules were cited as some of the factors that can lead to confusion and affect self-esteem and children’s academic performance.
“Younger children might regress developmentally, while adolescents may act out in ways that mirror the stress they experience at home,” added Gumbo.
Economic consequences of divorce are keenly felt in Zimbabwe’s challenging financial climate. Many families already grapple with unemployment, migration for work, and limited access to resources. Tinaye Ruwizhu, a psychologist warned that, children may face reduced access to educational materials, extracurricular activities, or even basic needs if one or both parents struggle financially after separation.
“In communities where marriage has traditionally been held as a central pillar of social life, divorced families, and especially single parents’ can experience stigma. This can extend to children, who may feel marginalised by peers or within extended family structures that once acted as reliable support networks,” said Ruwizhu.
As the divorce trend accelerates, Ruwizhu emphasised that support structures for children need urgent strengthening. Schools, health professionals, and community organisations are urged to recognise and respond to the specific needs of children in divorced families.
Bulawayo based family counsellor Innocent Moyo stressed that early intervention can make a significant difference: helping children articulate their feelings, nurturing positive relationships with both parents, and cushioning the psychological shocks of separation.
“Counselling services geared specifically toward children, rather than only adult spouses, can help mitigate long-term emotional distress”
Moyo acknowledged that legal empowerment has played a key role in enabling people to exit harmful relationships. Yet she also noted that “protecting children’s rights and wellbeing during and after divorce must remain central to policy reforms and community efforts.”
Legal experts also advocate for expedited and child-sensitive court procedures that reduce litigation stress and offer mediation options, allowing disputes over custody and care to be resolved with minimal trauma.
Religious leaders and community elders are calling for a renewed focus on relationship education and pre-marital counselling, arguing that stronger community involvement could help couples navigate common pressures before their bonds collapse. Some suggest that leveraging traditional support systems, such as elder mediation and peer-support networks, might counterbalance the weakening of extended family roles in modern urban contexts.
