WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2010-06-11 Time: 23:00:02 Posted By: News Poster
By Sandra Mandizvidza
STORIES of bitter squabbles between widows and their in-laws over property left behind by deceased spouses are very common in Zimbabwe.
But still the battle for the late orthopaedic surgeon Chris Mushonga’s estate continues to grab the headlines. Mushonga died last year from injuries sustained during an armed robbery at his Mt Pleasant home.
Since then his widow, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation has fought pitched battles in courts with her step children and in-laws over his estate.
Claims of theft and forgery flew around, before Misihairabwi-Mushonga last week officially gave up the fight for the estate citing harassment by state agents and the Mushonga family.
“I would prefer to become just another statistic of a victim of society that unfortunately has failed not only to protect me, but to provide protection to a majority of widows that must face this abuse every day,” she told journalists on Tuesday.
With that announcement, the minister had voluntarily surrendered her rights to her late husband’s multi-million dollar estate and now has to start from scratch.
Her decision has, re-ignited debate on how Zimbabwe’s “dual legal” system, which recognises both common and customary laws continues to fail widows.
Women in customary marriages are not usually entitled to the same rights as those married under common law, and are often barred from inheriting property and land, or getting custody of their children.
This has led to many fierce legal battles over inheritance of land, homes and marital property. Many widows have shown an interest in Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s case because she is a senior government official and an ardent feminist.
The question now being asked is: If the minister could not stand the heat what chances do ordinary women have?
Beatrice Mtetwa, world-renowned human rights lawyer, bemoaned Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s quick surrender. “It’s a tragedy for all Zimbabwean women that she has given up the fight so easily,” Mtetwa said.
“She is a powerful woman who every female in her predicament looked up to. Now all women will say, ‘if such powerful women lose such cases, what about they, the poor and unknown’.”
Mtetwa said Misihairabwi-Mushonga was not the only powerful woman in that predicament, saying the late national hero Josiah Tungamirai’s widow Pamela was homeless after being chucked out of the matrimonial home.
Mavis Madaure, director of the Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau said the case showed that more needed to be done to raise awareness on the rights of widows.
“Maybe she had been getting threats,” Madaure said. “But that was not a good decision. She made it because of pressure and she needs our support.
“It’s time for women to stand up for our rights and claim what belongs to us.”
However, critics accuse women’s groups of folding their hands while Misihairabwi-Mushonga fought a lone battle.
None of the organisations that claim to have an interest in the protection of women’s rights fought in her corner or offered solidarity messages.
Women and Law in Southern Africa director Sylivia Chirau said they were quiet because they assumed that the minister was going to win her case.
“We assumed everything was going to be okay because the law was on her side. We did not know that this was going to happen; she was not supposed to give up,” said Chirau.
She said they had expected the minister to win her case easily because she was an “empowered woman”.
“I can understand the decision, but it was a bad decision, she is someone who is powerful and empowered,” said Chirau. “She should have stood up for her rights.”
Netty Musanhi, the Msasa Project director admitted women had let down a fellow activist.
“We agree we didn’t do our part. We still have a lot of work to do,” she said adding that Misihairabwi-Mushonga was just like any other woman who should have stood up for her rights.
“A woman is just a woman, it does not matter whether you are a minister or ordinary woman, Priscilla should not have given up.
“Unlike other women she had resources to fight her case.”
Musanhi said they were planning a meeting with other women organisations to discuss the matter.
But Eddington Mhonda, the programme coordinator of Padare/Enkundleni — an anti-sexist men’s organisation — said the minister should be respected for the decision she took.
“It’s her right to do that. She knows the content of the will, and maybe she wanted peace of mind,” Mhonda said.
However, he encouraged men to write wills to avoid family feuds when they die.
“In-laws are not allowed to fight for things left behind but to avoid this, whatever type of marriage, there should be a current will which is not emotional but objective,” said Mhonda.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga also accused the police of bias in the way they handled the dispute.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said the police were not officially involved in the case.
“Our position is very clear: that matter is before the courts. It’s a civil matter and the police have nothing to do with it unless we are directed by the courts to take action,” Mandipaka said.
Widows married under customary law enjoy some protection when their husbands die without leaving a will, but they remain at the mercy of greedy in-laws.
Original Source: 
Original date published: 22 May 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201005240924.html?viewall=1