RESIDENTS of Makambako Town Council in Njombe Region have raised concerns of lack of trust, respect, and integrity between spouses is driving a surge in romantic jealousy—often ending in domestic violence, murder, and divorce.

Speaking over the weekend during a discussion with reporters, several men and women from the town shared their views on the root causes of the growing problem.

Wile Mlali, a resident, said marital disputes are escalating partly because of dishonesty and mistrust between partners.

“Incidents of violence are increasing among couples because of a lack of trust from the women and their failure to respect their husbands, especially when they earn a higher income,” he said.

Another local, Bahati Msigwa, advised men to seek peaceful resolutions when faced with marital conflicts rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Seth Vegulla, secretary of the Men’s Department at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Mjimwema Parish, noted that romantic jealousy leading to suicides or violence often stems from inadequate marriage education.

“Many couples do not have enough education about marriage. This leads to senseless jealousy, conflicts, and ultimately, violence,” Vegulla said.

He urged religious institutions to organise regular men’s forums focused on marriage guidance, adding that training for young people preparing for marriage should be extended beyond one-day seminars.

Women in the town also shared their perspectives. Irene Kizinga pointed out that the problem is not one-sided, with both genders contributing to tensions in relationships. She noted that some women become defiant after gaining financial independence, while some men neglect family duties in favour of excessive drinking.

“There are women who are subjected to violence or commit suicide because of romantic jealousy, especially when they get their own income and feel they have no reason to obey their husbands. But there are also men who fail to fulfill their responsibilities and spend a lot of time drinking alcohol,” Kizinga said.

Community members agreed that improving marital education and fostering mutual respect could help reduce the growing number of domestic violence incidents in the area.