It’s heart breaking. It’s terrifying. It’s happening far too often. Another name added to the growing list of lives tragically cut short by passion killings. A life that held dreams, ambitions and so much potential. Gone.
We hear the stories, we see the headlines but do we feel the pain? Do we stop to think about the family shattered by grief? The child left without a mother? The community haunted by what-ifs?
Passion killings are a devastating epidemic, a storm fuelled by unchecked emotions, toxic relationships and a dangerous lack of communication. Love, which is meant to nurture and protect, is twisted into something that destroys.
But why? Why do we allow anger, jealousy and possessiveness to consume us? Why are we failing to teach ourselves and those around us that love is not ownership, that rejection is not a reason for violence and that our emotions should never hold the power to take a life?
We need to talk. We need to heal. We need to act.
To the youth, know that your worth is not tied to another person. If a relationship ends, it is not the end of your world. Let go with grace and grow.
To communities, step up. See the signs. Support those in unhealthy relationships. Teach respect, patience and emotional resilience.
To authorities, prioritize education and intervention. Hold perpetrators accountable and protect victims before it’s too late.
Passion killings are preventable. Every one of these lives lost is a tragic reminder of how far we need to go. Let’s create a culture where love is safe, rejection is respected and no one has to fear for their life in the name of love.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive or toxic relationship, please seek help. Speak up. You are not alone.
Together, let’s rewrite this story. A story where love heals and never hurts. 
