Menchum Traditional Rulers Poise To Eradicate Obnoxious Widowhood Rites

Aghem Fons Other Participants At Assessment Workshop  

Traditional rulers of menchum division have resolved to eradicate obnoxious widowhood rites. In line with some provisions of the Maputo and UN charter on women’s rights where Cameroon is a signatory, an agreement was signed with the administration of Menchum and Dr. Kelly Ngyah, the Chief executive Officer of modern Advocacy Humanitarian Social and Rehabilitation Association (MAHSRA) two years ago, on widows rights in a bid to mitigate gender violence and push forth the advocacy on the eradication of illtreatment meted on widows as practiced by most tribes in the North West Region.

This declaration was made by the Paramount Ruler of the Aghem people in Wum central, Fon Bahmbi III, President of Menchum Fons Union. Speaking at his palace during an essessment workshop holding after that of Esu and Weh villages, the Fon of aghem in the presence his six colleagues said if today some people are still maltreating widows then it is unfortunate and that he shall ensure that this practice is eradicated in the entire Division. This he said shall be tabled during their Fons Union meeting that would be holding soon. Aghem has matrilineal inheritance with no room for women to succeed their father. A widow can stay with her children in her husband’s compound but would not be sent away if she remarries out of her late husband’s family. The nephew who succeeds the widow’s late husband assumes the duties of a father and husband if she gives her concern. The Fon of Aghem was taken aback by the naration of an ordeal experienced by one widow from her husband’s people of Zhoa village. This lady said when her husband died after suffering with him in the hospital for three weeks, she was subjected to all kind of maltreatment by other women in the name of performing widowhood rites. She was not allowed to come close to the late husband’s remains and was buried without her. She had to sit on a dirty bag on the floor and was escorted to the rest room and back with very little to eat. Bathing during this period was a luxury.

According to the facilitator of the workshop talking on the project funded by the British High Commission to Cameroon, he says there are provisions for punishment in the revised penal code for some forms of gender violence like female genital  mutilation and breast ironing, sexual harrassment and poor dressing that exposes sensitive parts of the body. Child trafficking and force marraiges are punishable. A widow has the right to remarry after 180 days and thus forfiet all possessions from her late husband. Widows have rights to privacy and should be treated equal like other women in the community and that her husband’s family must not hold her in servitude and should be allowed to participate in public life. She should not be deprive unlawfully of her late husband’s property. He told participants that the objective of the workshop was to ascertain the level of implementation and assess the dificulties faced while implementing the protocol agreement. On her part the Divisional Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family for Menchum lauded the initiative put in place by MAHSRA geared towards advocating against obnoxious traditional rites on widows. To her there is need for vigorous sensitization to ensure that widows get out of the fear syndrome and standup for their rights.