MALAWI – Eric Aniva, a HIV-positive sex worker Malawian man has been found guilty for having unprotected sex with newly bereaved widows. The practice of “widow cleansing”, when a widow must have sex after her husband dies, was outlawed a few years ago.
Aniva, known in Malawi as a “hyena”, admitted to having sex with more than 100 women and underage girls and not disclosing his HIV status. This led to president Peter Mutharika ordering his arrest in July. The president had wanted Aniva tried for defiling young girls, but none came forward to testify against him. Instead Aniva was tried for “harmful cultural practice” under section five of Malawi’s Gender Equality Act for having sex with new widows. Two women testified against him.
He will be sentenced on 22 November 2016.
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