By Hilda Atika
Mahiakalo Ward in Lurambi Constituency has inaugurated a Community-Based Organization (CBO) dedicated to protecting and respecting widows’ rights.
Speaking during the launch, area MCA Modester Auka highlighted the challenges widows face following the death of their spouses. She noted that these challenges often leave widows, whether elderly and alone or young with children, struggling to cope with grief while also navigating life as sole providers.
“Many widows find themselves for the first time without any social safety net,” Auka said. “It’s estimated that 115 million widows worldwide live in extreme poverty along with their children. This is a reality we must address with urgency.”
The MCA stressed that empowering widows economically is crucial to eradicating poverty. She urged society to re-affirm the importance of widows as integral members of the community and called for heightened awareness of their plight.
“The situation of widows highlights the need to strengthen their economic empowerment and uphold their land, property, and inheritance rights,” she stated. “Wisdom calls upon us to give special attention to these issues and ensure widows can live free from gender-based violence.”
Mahiakalo’s newly launched Mguu Moja CBO aims to advocate for widows’ access to education, employment opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods. The organization will also address gender-based violence while fostering widows’ inclusion as vibrant contributors to society.
The MCA emphasized the transformative potential of widows when supported with opportunities, noting that they can emerge as valuable members of their families and communities.
“Our presence here today reflects the seriousness this issue deserves,” she concluded. “By empowering widows, we not only enable them to overcome life’s challenges but also contribute to the social and economic growth of our communities.”
