The ordeal of “property stripping” from widows in a peri-urban community: the case of a selected ward in Binga district, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The death of a husband is a common traumatic experience for widows in Zimbabwean communities. This paper discusses widows’ experiences of property stripping in a peri-urban community of Sikalenge Ward, Binga District in Matabeleland North in Zimbabwe. It is a qualitative research study. Participants were key informants about social service provision for widows who had been stripped of property upon the death of their spouses. Thematic data analysis showed that widows suffer social exclusion and marginalisation upon the death of their partners. This article aims at supplementing the theoretical knowledge of social work practitioners and suggests concrete interventions in addressing this plight of Zimbabwean widows