Elizabeth Hashim, a resident of Makong’onda Village in Masasi District, Mtwara Region, shares her ordeal of domestic abuse, which compelled Mwananchi to establish a presence in her home to gather her story firsthand.
It’s not easy to listen to Elizabeth Hashim’s story. She endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of her husband.
One of the most horrifying incidents she faced in her marriage was being set on fire in her intimate parts. After recovering from these injuries, she was then attacked with a machete.
Elizabeth believed that beatings, harassment, and torture were normal in her marriage until neighbors intervened to rescue her.
Her suffering led Mwananchi to establish a presence in her home at Makong’onda village to document her story.
On May 7, 2024, the Masasi District Court sentenced her husband, Abdallah Mataka, to five years in prison for his crimes.
This court ruling marked a new chapter in Elizabeth’s life.
Elizabeth’s story aligns with research conducted by the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) in 2015/2016, which revealed that three out of ten women have experienced violence.
The survey also indicated that four out of ten women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
Moreover, 58% of women and 40% of men believe it’s acceptable for a husband to beat his wife for various reasons.
Elizabeth could be among these women who have endured suffering within their marriages.
Speaking to Mwananchi, Elizabeth recalled the day her husband attacked her with a machete, asserting that without the intervention of her neighbors, she might have lost her life.
She narrated how she left home that day, her husband following her closely wherever she went. Upon returning home, she was suddenly attacked from behind, leading to her collapse, despite being pregnant.
When asked why she was beaten, she explained that her husband accused her of not providing enough food for their children, whom she had with another man before their marriage.
Elizabeth recounted enduring prolonged abuse and beatings from her husband, which had been frequently resolved, but his behavior never changed until he committed the act that landed him in jail.
Apart from the physical violence, Elizabeth revealed that her husband’s jealousy often led to heartless acts.
One night, he threw burning embers onto the roof of their grass-thatched house, intending to kill her and their children.
Fortunately, her eldest daughter, who was awake reading, noticed the fire and alerted the family, allowing them to escape.
Despite the relentless abuse, Elizabeth still loves her husband and believes he will change one day.
She recalled an incident where her husband accused her of infidelity, despite never seeing her with another man.
The Chairperson of Makong’onda Village, Hamis Millanzi, disclosed that he had been mediating between Elizabeth and her husband for a long time.
He recounted rushing to the scene of the incident upon receiving a distress call, finding Elizabeth lying on the ground with blood pouring from her wounds. They rushed her to the hospital, thankful that she didn’t lose her pregnancy.
However, Elizabeth later gave birth prematurely, and sadly, the child did not survive.
Some neighbors reported that when Elizabeth went into labor, she delayed going to the hospital and ended up giving birth at home, where the child died.
Despite enduring unimaginable suffering, Elizabeth remains hopeful that her husband will change his ways.
She shared how her husband once stuffed dry grass into her private parts and set it on fire, accusing her of infidelity. However, despite the pain, she stayed home and nursed her wounds until she healed.
Elizabeth’s husband was suspicious of her faithfulness, accompanying her even to the toilet out of jealousy. They used to work together in the fields to earn a living, but their constant quarrels made them lose many job opportunities.
Elizabeth, a second wife, knew of her husband’s past abusive behavior but chose to marry him, believing it wouldn’t be the same for her.
According to the Office of the Regional Commissioner of Mtwara’s Department of Social Welfare, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence held in 2023 in Masasi District, statistics revealed over 1,120 cases of reported violence between January and September 2023.
Out of these, 684 were children and 436 were adults. More than 128 cases were taken to court, with 20 convictions, while 892 cases were handled by social welfare offices.
Twenty cases are ongoing, with 40 under investigation, and 20 cases were deferred. Among adults, there were 149 cases of physical violence and 31 cases of sexual violence.
Minister of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Balozi Pindi Chana, emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling this issue, urging communities to report such cases for legal action.
This article was produced with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
