Snatched land, house…

When her husband died, Florence Luwe was inherited by her late husband’s brother in a traditional practice locally know as chokolo (wife inheritance). In her new family, however, nothing was rosy. She lost a house and land left to her by her deceased husband.

As we continue hearing from women who have suffered various forms of abuse due to their HIV status during this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, Mrs. Luwe tells us her story. Her ordeal is a vivid example of how culture can fuel violence against women.

Mrs. Luwe lost her husband to an HIV/AIDS related ailment in 1991. She currently stays at Champhira in Mzimba, but her late husband hailed from Kaluluma in Kasungu, in central Malawi.

“I got married in 1972 and lived a happy family life until my husband died”, she starts narrating her story.

“When my husband died, I was inherited by his elder brother as part their culture which they say is meant to keep the family together”, she says, “I had seven children with my first husband, but none with my second.”

“From the onset, I had problems staying with my late husband’s brother. We quarreled a lot over petty issues. He started spending nights out and subsequently left for his home”.

Mrs. Luwe was falling sick frequently, but says she just took it for granted and did not bother to go for an HIV test.

“I did not know what I was suffering from, but I seriously got ill in 2004… and because I used to hear on radio that when one gets sick time and again, they must take an HIV test I decided to go for one and I was found HIV positive.

“When I informed him (the new husband) about the development, he got angry and there and then ended the marriage. This is now the tenth year since we parted ways.

“He went as far as throwing away the drugs (antiretroviral drugs) I received at hospital, accusing me of infecting him with HIV.

“I was bedridden from some time. But my health picked up when I started taking medication…so in 2008 I decide to back to my first husband’s home, Kaluluma, to inquire about the land where we used to cultivate maize and other crops.

“He refused to give me that piece of land. Instead, they (relations of the former husband) gave me another land without proper explanation. I did not argue with them. I just went ahead to cultivate on the new land.

“I went again in 2009 to reclaim my farmland. This time, I was told that it had been rented out.

“Then I asked about the house I had built with my first husband. I wanted to renovate the house because it had developed cracks, but again he denied me access to the house because his workers were residing in it. He actually said it was longer mine!”

Mrs. Luwe says this year again she has been denied access to her farmyard and the house.

“Since 2004, I have not received any assistance from my late husband’s brother who inherited me on the pretext of taking care of me and my children”, she laments.

“I feel I am being victimized because I am HIV positive.

“In our culture, women have limited rights. Men can do whatever they want and you cannot question them. Land, houses and everything is owned by men.”

She, however, says she will fight on to reclaim her farmland and the house.

“I’m worried mainly because of my children; where will they cultivate their crops when they grow up if they do not get this piece of land”, she says, “If don’t get back my land back I’ll will report the matter to human rights organizations or police. I’ve been patient with them because I thought we could solve this problem as a family affair”.

To keep her life going, Mrs. Luwe works as a ward attendant at Champhira Health Centre. “I use the little money I get to support my children.”

“Four my children have since gotten married.

“Presently I am not worried about my health. I am just worried about the future of my younger children. If I retire now, where shall they go? The only piece of land I had was the one which was taken away”, she says.

“If there are other women who have suffered the kind of abuse I have gone through, I urge them not to despair.

“We can start life afresh by looking for employment or engaging in small scale-businesses.

“I also urge financial lending organizations to offer women living with HIV loans for small-scale businesses”, says Mrs. Luwe.

Just like the four women we have previously heard from, Mrs. Luwe explains that joining a support group has helped to ease her life. She is a member of the Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANET+) and the Coalition of Women Living HIV and AIDS.

She has also received support from Action Aid Malawi.

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My Survival Story on ZODIAK Online is sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa).