Effects of Customary Law in Widows’ Inheritance Rights to Matrimonial Properties at Ruanda Ward in Mbeya City, Tanzania

This study investigated the effects of customary law on widows‟ inheritance rights in matrimonial properties. The study sampled a total of 120 respondents using simple random, purposive and snow ball sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires on a face to face, interview, observation and documentary reviews Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 for thematic analysis of quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Results indicated that social effects included the loss of friends and social support (39.1%), lack of respect among relatives (58.4%) and stigmatization especially by men (65.9%). Also, it was observed that, economic effects included poverty (75%), disinheritance of matrimonial properties (68.4%), property grabbing by relatives (75.9%) and loss of home asserts (19.1%). The study concludes that the effects occurred because of the customary laws were ineffective in protecting widows‟ inheritance rights and matrimonial properties. It is therefore recommended that, there is a need to create widow related law groups, translate the existing customary laws into Swahili and conduct seminars and workshops that create awareness on the applicability of various customary laws geared at protecting widows‟ inheritance rights in matrimonial properties