an HIV-positive Malawian man has been sentenced to 2 years in jail with hard labour 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.
Eric Aniva, known in Malawi as a “hyena”, admitted to having sex with more than 100 women and girls and not disclosing his HIV status. This led to President Peter Mutharika ordering his arrest in July.
Mr Mutharika had wanted Aniva tried for defiling young girls, but none came forward to testify against him. Instead, he 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.
Aniva’s lawyer, Michael Goba Chipeta, said he would appeal against the conviction and the sentence.
Last year, Malawi banned child marriage, raising the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 – something activists hoped would put an end to early sexual initiations.
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