by Edward Selasini

The government has been requested to prepare a more gender balanced Bill on the Law of Inheritance and Estate Administration.

Samson Rumende, training and awareness creation officer of the Pastoralists Indigenous non governmental organizations (PINGOS) told the VetAid awareness seminar for HIV/AIDS victims on May 11 that there was a need for the government to have one ordinance/law on inheritance. The Seminar was held at the Golden Rose Hotel.

At present there are contradicting laws on inheritance in the United Republic of Tanzania.

The participants at the seminar sounded their concern on the way widows lost their rights to inheritance of property and estate to the husband’s relatives.

Rumende listed the ordinances dealing with inheritance as the 1963 Will and Inheritance ordinance, the Koran law, the Indian Inheritance law, the Estate Administration Act of 1961, and the Small Estates Administration Act, Cap 301.

Dr. Leonce Momboru told the seminar that mistreatment and marginalization of widows by their in-laws led to early demise especially if they were HIV positive.

Mombori who works with the UHAI Centre (The Archdiocese of Arusha’s Unit on Control of HIV/AIDS spread), further explained that one of the challenges they have been facing was the fear of HIV positive people publicizing their status due to stigmatization.