Women abused

It would seem discrimination against women has reached its lowest ebb in the country.
Former Timphisini Member of Parliament Jennifer Du Pont, recently widowed, was nominated for the position of MP and on Saturday Chief Magudvulela came out to state that widows should not be voted for. He said this would be an embarrassment to the chiefdom and it would also be against the dictates of culture. 

This effectively means that if the chief gets his way she will not make it to Parliament, not because she is unworthy of the position, but because culturally the death of her husband has rendered her unfit to serve the electorate.

Circumstances beyond her control may have adversely determined her future. She not only has to contend with the fact that she has just lost her life partner but she is also forced to deal with the fact that his death may have cost her a chance to be a parliamentarian again.

Whatever the case might be it is doubted that this would have been the case had she been a man. A man in her situation would long have come out of mourning and would not have been subjected to such discrimination. 

Her plight has driven home the fact that women are more often than not so wrongly treated by men who seem to have the power to do as they please. This also shows that our women are held in such disregard and their wants and needs are inconsequential in the larger scheme of things.
 This incident also brings to the fore the blatant disregard for the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land and the fact that Swazi culture and the constitution are not aligned.
It also shows that although on paper the constitution supersedes any other law that is not the prevailing situation on the ground.

If a chief can order his constituents to defy the constitution clearly that is an indication that those who should be championing it do not think much about it. The chief’s utterances were irresponsible and they will put the country in the spotlight internationally because the country will be deemed to have infringed upon the rights of women. 

Purposely infected

Another woman was subjected to the worst form of abuse imaginable. She was infected with HIV by her husband who further refused her permission to take medication for her condition. The man is said to have excused his behaviour because he had paid a bride price of 12 cattle.
One then wonders what it means for a woman to be made a wife.

Does this mean she should be subjected to eternal damnation simply because she agreed to be his wife?
Does paying lobola mean ownership of another human being?
Does he care so little about her that her wellbeing is of no significance? Men are supposed to love, care and protect their women and not abuse them.

Paying of lobola will be seen by many as another form of abuse against women  if men like this one continue to misconstrue the importance of this beautiful activity.

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