Dar councillor sets up association of widows

Mohamed Msofe, who is the Kipunguni ward Councillor in Dar es Salaam, has set up an association for widows in the area with the aim of addressing challenges facing deprived women in society.

Speaking during a meeting which brought on board 238 widows from four streets of Kipunguni B, Kitinye, Machimbo and Amana over the weekend, Msofe said widows are among the forgotten groups in the community despite the fact that they face numerous challenges.

 

According to him, the union will address different challenges facing the widow, including their rights and other needs.

 

He explained that Kipunguni ward has many widows, a thing which pressed him to set up the society to deal with them and their challenges.Msofe mentioned some of the challenges as low level of knowledge on legal matters which has led to denial of widows’ rights of inheritance.

 

“Many widows have been chased out of house by husband’s relatives and left with nothing due to low level of knowledge on law and their rights,” he said.

 

He said the union will assist, address and communicate with widows to make sure they rise voices and live a happily life like other women.

“Majority of widows are filled with sorrow all the time due to hard times they are passing through such as disturbance from relatives especially if the husband was rich,” he noted.

 

He said society should join hands to help widows instead of discriminate them.

 

Tanzania Widows Association chairperson (Tawia) Rose William applauding Msofe for initiating the group said:

“It’s my first time to hear a politician initiating a group aimed to address widow’s challenges”.

 

She said that is a step forward towards helping widows in the country, particularly poor who lost their basic rights.

 

He said Tawia will help to provide knowledge on law and paralegal services to widows who have problems pertaining to inheritance. 

 

According to her, the association will also provide microfinance service and entrepreneurial education to assist widows economically.

 

She said currently there is ongoing free training on entrepreneurship for widows in Kariakoo.

 

 

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN