DanChurchAid
Zambia
Strong women in Zambia
Susan Sianjobo’s voice resouns throughout the assembly:
- “Today, we will assess and gather all the things we have discussed in the last weeks”
The local leader of the organisation Women for Change looks intensely at the approximately 100 people that have taken place in the shadow under a big tree in a village a few kilometres from the Zambian town Choma. Mainly women and children are present, but many have also brought their men along.
Focus on AIDS through workshop
In October 2005, Women for Change discussed traditions and rituals with the local villagers drawing their attention to how their culture can decrease the risk of being infected with HIV. Through role play, teaching and general discussions, everything from inheritance, polygamy and sexual cleansing rituals were turned upside down.
“You can get infected at the barber’s if the knife has not been cleaned. If you are married and have other partners on the side, you can also get infected, or if you inherit another man’s wife,” says a representative from group 1. “Men should only have one wife,” adds a woman from the assembly.
A tall young man stands up and says: “We need to control ourselves. We should not stay away from our partners for so long that we might get tempted by someone else.”
Another group emphasises how important it is to write a will to secure the ones left behind. One of the attendants tells a story of how his sister in law managed to get some things back that her deceased husband’s brother had taken; this was only possible because the couple had written a will.
Strengthening the women
Before Women for Change enters an area to discuss traditions and rituals, they first talk to the local chief and the village leaders. Subsequently a village meeting is held to ensure that everyone accept that changes need to be made in order to improve women’s rights, and thereby reduce the risk of being infected with HIV.
“AIDS has very much to do with the relationship between men and women. And that is why we focus on how cultures affect women’s rights to make decisions and gain participation. Women for Change enhance the women’s strength and teaches them that they have the right to say no to sex,” says Emily Sikazwe, the leader of Women for Change.
In the villages around Choma it is tradition that men have more than one wife. That tradition is now challenged by the aids epidemic, and more men now only have one wife.
33-year-old Edson Sikumbaldi and his 30-year-old wife Besai Muderda have both been raised in families where the father has more than one wife. But they have chosen not to follow their families’ footsteps. “Life is hard, and I can’t afford more than one wife. Besides, my wife will not allow me to marry another woman,” says Edson Sikumbaldi.
Culture is dynamic
Women for Change also work to change sexual cleansing rituals. When a woman becomes a widow, it is tradition in some villages that the deceased’s brother cleanses the widow by having sex with her. If he doesn’t the deceased’s soul will haunt the widow.
The widow is not entitled to say no and thereby risks getting infected with HIV, or she might infect the brother and his family.
In co-operation with Women for Change, the local chief of the Choma area has advocated for a change of the cleansing rituals. Now, fines are issued if it is carried out. There has also been thought of alternative ways to cleanse the widow.
”Culture is dynamic. That’s why we must find new ways to practice our culture and traditions,” says Emily Sikazwe.
The article is written by journalist Malene Haakansson ( mah@dca.dk ), published on www.noedhjaelp.dk , 20 October 2005. Translated and edited by Gitte Groenlund Rasmussen.
Zambia
