Illustration by Minority Africa, used with permission. This story was written by Regina Pasipanodya and originally published by Minority Africa, and an edited version is republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement. On a November night in 2023, Mercy Matovera escaped from the relentless brutality within the walls of her own home. For far too long, she had endured her husband’s frequent fits of rage, with physical blows that came two or three times a week. But on this fateful night, Matovera reached her breaking point. Desperate to shield herself and her nine-month-old ba…
