“I was once denied land because I am a woman.” How Matilda is inspiring change against patriarchal and oppressive traditional systems

Land is a crucial resource for many Malawians as Agriculture is the main source of income and livelihood especially in rural communities. In Northern Malawi, the patrilineal way of life is the most practiced. Most patrilineal cultures practice a tradition known as “lobola.” This is a dowry paid to a woman’s family from a prospective husband. While it varies across families who practice this custom, it often means that a woman belongs to the man and that every resource owned or acquired by the family and including the children belong to the man. This also means that women are not allocated nor do they inherit land. This was Matilda’s life. A young woman from Gonera Village in Rumphi, Northern Malawi. At just 25, she had endured an abusive marriage, with no property or resources to her name. She made the bold decision to leave her marriage and start afresh despite immense backlash from both her family and her husband’s family. She courageously went back to her family’s home where she found her mother’s land taken over by other relatives. She did not know where to start from in claiming her right to own land.

Early this year, Matilda was selected to participate in the Lwande Lithu: Young Women 4 Conflict Prevention and Response Project funded by UN women where she was equipped with the knowledge and skills for conflict resolution, empowerment and peace-building. As the bold young woman that she is, after the training and with the support of the project’s male champions, she was able to stand against a long standing tradition in her family and fought for her right to own land. Matilda was able to retrieve the land taken over by her male relatives and today owns her own land where she planted pine trees.

Matilda went through four rigorous training sessions under our project. These sessions did not only build Matilda’s confidence to reclaim her rights but to become a young champion for conflict resolution, peace and empowerment in her community. Through an array of skills which she gained such as public speaking and community mobilization, she has been able to educate her community on issues around conflict resolution, peace building and empowerment. The knowledge about peace-building and conflict has enabled her to analytically get to the root of various conflicts in her community and provide the necessary direction for resolution. At the heart of the work that she does after the training is the empowerment of divorced young women as herself and those who were involved in prostitution. Matilda has effectively intervened on cases that involve land grabbing and successfully defended these young women’s rights to own land. In addition, she created a Village Savings Loan scheme for the young women which not only serve as an economic empowerment tool but also a safe space for young women to share experiences and encourage one another through challenging situations.

"Since I started this work most young women I have stood up for have been allocated land by their families. They have gained more agency and have become financially independence." She expressed

Matilda (Front) with some of the families and community members she has worked with

Matilda’s success in carrying forward the training she received earned her trust with key traditional leaders including the chief in her community when it comes to land grabbing issues. She works hand in hand with the chief to defend the rights of young women in her community especially those related to land ownership. Once a month, Matilda meets with sixteen Village Development Committees where they share knowledge and feedback on developments around key peace--building, conflict and empowerment issues. They collectively work with authorities on identified cases and challenges and successfully resolve these challenges which often result in young women being allocated land.  Matilda currently serves as a mentor to 12 other young women with whom she shares her knowledge and skills from the training sessions.

 As for Matilda’s future, she looks forward to participating in Lwande Lithu Conflict Prevention Equality Café. This is a community radio program organized under the project where she will share her story, how current harmful cultural practices violate the rights of young women and call to action local leaders and communities to safeguard the rights of young women.

"I also aspire to be in a local government leadership position as a counsellor which will give me the opportunity and power to lead change, shape narratives and be a part of important decision making processes that affect young women, the marginalized and my community as a whole."

The Lwande Lithu: Young Women 4 Conflict Prevention and Response project is a UN Women funded project which is aimed at building the capacity of young women and marginalized groups to meaningfully participate in conflict prevention processes. It also aims to enhance transformative conflict prevention and peace building movements led by young women. The project is being implemented by God Cares Rights Foundation and Center for Civil Society Strengthening in collaboration with leaders at local and district level.