MBABANE: Nonhlanhla Dlamini, the Director of the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) said the recent court ruling issued by Judge Titus Mlangeni in the estate of the late businessman Victor Gamedze was not only a victory for Princess Lungile but all women who might be subjected to injustice once their husbands are no more.

This comes after the court ruled that Victor Gamedze’s widow, Princess Lungile should receive half in the Estate of her husband after theJudge accepted her evidence suggesting that she contributed immensely in the accumulation of the wealth.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday, the SWAGGA Director said such judgements bring hope and an end to the customary practice that reduced women to the status of children with the intention of depriving them benefits in their husbands estates when in fact, most of them worked very hard to accumulate wealth with their partners.

“It then becomes painful that once the husband dies, the wife is automatically reduced to the status of a child and be awarded a child’s share. We have been fighting this for all these years that a wife is not a child and should not be treated as such hence we are very happy with such judgement that recognize women as human beings” she said.

When asked how the customary practice of reducing wives into the status of children came into being, the SWAGAA Director said it part of Swazi Law and Custom.

“Before, a wife was not allowed to even apply for loans and buy properties without the consent of her husband, however, things have changed. Actually, these are some of the things we have been advocating for, that a woman should be allowed to take independent decisions and be treated like a human being. These customary practices were making life to be more difficult for married women such that those who are single were regarded independent and free to take decisions that seeks to improve their lives. We would like to thank Mrs Gamedze for fighting this estate matter, the judgement will not only help her but all women as it will act as a precedent in law” said the SWAGAA Director.