Minister bemoans the plight of widows

Malawi is today observing World Widows Day with a call to community and religious leaders to support the fight against property grabbing and harmful cultural practices forced on widows.

The day, which falls on June 23, was set aside in 2011 by the United Nations to provide an opportunity to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and galvanise the unique support that they need. 

Briefing the media in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza said it is disheartening to note that despite having the necessary legislation, widows continue to face various abuses which affect their dignity. 

The minister said issues such as property grabbing and harmful cultural practices such as kulowa kufa, and chokolo put widows at risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases and psychological trauma which may make them unproductive citizens.

Said Sendeza: “Malawi enacted Laws such as the Gender Equality Act, 2013 and Section 5, which prohibits harmful practices that undermine the dignity of women and perpetuates gender inequalities, the Marriage Divorce and Family Relations Act (2015) which protects widows from abuse and the Deceased Estate Wills and inheritance Act (2011).

“It is unfortunate that widows continue to be denied inheritance rights, as sometimes, their property is grabbed after the death of a spouse, and face extreme stigma.” 

She has since called on stakeholders to develop programmes aimed at ending violence against widows some of which include providing them with information on access to fair justice, share of their inheritance, land and financial resources, pensions and any other form of social protection available.

In her remarks, Widows Association of Malawi chairperson Nasreen Khonat called for stiffer penalties for those abusing widows saying the current ones are not deterrent enough.

The Deceased Estates Act of 2011 singles out property grabbing as a criminal offence, liable for a K1 Million fine or imprisonment of up to three years.

Khonat hailed the Ministry for recognising the day saying it allows widows in the country to speak out and share their challenges.