Story of a widow, Natembo
The rights of women in Chididi, where they are more regularly than not seen as part of their husband’s estate, take a turn for the worse upon the death of their spouses.
42-year-old Natembo, widow of the late Maclorence Fombe of Nyenyezi village was repatriated by her father in-law, inconsiderate of her 5 children she is bringing up single-handedly. Her father, who lives in GVH Mkhutche, accepted the repatriation but wondered if he could also be able to raise his 5 grandchildren considering his old age. Mr Fombe, Natembo’s father in-law, told his counterpart that the children will be taken care of by the unseen God.
Helplessly, Natembo returned to her late husband’s home to inform her children of her relocation because her father had accepted the repatriation. There was commotion at her house when she broke the news to her children. The children cried out loud refusing to be left alone. As the children were crying, Natembo cried too.
Natembo’s 15 year old daughter rushed to Anosi, one of the members of community victim support unit (CVSU) to lodge her complaint disallowing her grandfather to repatriate her mother. It was on the 19th of June 2014 where all interested parties were called at Chididi CVSU for mediation. Mr Fombe was found wrong and he was told to stop provoking the bereaved family otherwise if repatriation continues the matter will be referred to the constitutional court.
After the burial of her husband, in November 2013, Natembo was offered a man to conduct sexual cleansing with, which she refused to do. Under patriarchal system, she was deemed undependable and disrespectful of the customs of the land.
‘‘We are destitute. I married Maclorence in 1998 when he had no good house, but now, the corrugated iron sheet thatched house I toiled together with him is attracting his father to disown me and my 5 daughters.’
Assets including cultivable land could have been lost or confiscated if the CVSU had not intervened. Local custom laws could have been used to disposes the bereaved family without their consent. However, local custom disowns widows if found or caught sleeping with another man. But the same local custom is silent if the widower commits similar crime.
Natembo’s story is quite common and typifies the plight of women in the face of traditional customs. Her first born daughter is 14 and the last born is 4 years old. Natembo is working hard doing paid piece jobs to raise funds to build a tomb stone for her late husband, Maclorence was a victim of alcohol intoxication which Natembo describes as "the work of witches".
42-year-old Natembo, widow of the late Maclorence Fombe of Nyenyezi village was repatriated by her father in-law, inconsiderate of her 5 children she is bringing up single-handedly. Her father, who lives in GVH Mkhutche, accepted the repatriation but wondered if he could also be able to raise his 5 grandchildren considering his old age. Mr Fombe, Natembo’s father in-law, told his counterpart that the children will be taken care of by the unseen God.
Helplessly, Natembo returned to her late husband’s home to inform her children of her relocation because her father had accepted the repatriation. There was commotion at her house when she broke the news to her children. The children cried out loud refusing to be left alone. As the children were crying, Natembo cried too.
Natembo’s 15 year old daughter rushed to Anosi, one of the members of community victim support unit (CVSU) to lodge her complaint disallowing her grandfather to repatriate her mother. It was on the 19th of June 2014 where all interested parties were called at Chididi CVSU for mediation. Mr Fombe was found wrong and he was told to stop provoking the bereaved family otherwise if repatriation continues the matter will be referred to the constitutional court.
After the burial of her husband, in November 2013, Natembo was offered a man to conduct sexual cleansing with, which she refused to do. Under patriarchal system, she was deemed undependable and disrespectful of the customs of the land.
‘‘We are destitute. I married Maclorence in 1998 when he had no good house, but now, the corrugated iron sheet thatched house I toiled together with him is attracting his father to disown me and my 5 daughters.’
Assets including cultivable land could have been lost or confiscated if the CVSU had not intervened. Local custom laws could have been used to disposes the bereaved family without their consent. However, local custom disowns widows if found or caught sleeping with another man. But the same local custom is silent if the widower commits similar crime.
Natembo’s story is quite common and typifies the plight of women in the face of traditional customs. Her first born daughter is 14 and the last born is 4 years old. Natembo is working hard doing paid piece jobs to raise funds to build a tomb stone for her late husband, Maclorence was a victim of alcohol intoxication which Natembo describes as "the work of witches".
