In Mozambique: Man forced to pay bride price for dead wife

According to the family of the woman, the man lived with the woman, without going through all the marriage formalities.

A man in Mozambique's southern province of Inhambane was over the weekend forced to pay the traditional bride price, locally known as "lobolo”, for a dead woman.

The woman died due to complications during childbirth, but the family said they will not bury her unless the partner paid the "lobolo", Mozambique's state radio reports.

According to the family of the woman, the man lived with the woman, without going through all the marriage formalities.

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The young man, therefore, indicated that he had to buy clothes and shoes for his dead wife, agree to pay more than $800 (£630), and hold a symbolic wedding ceremony on 15 December.

A brother to the young man, Irmao do Jovem, said: “We tried to raise the money they demanded, but we could only put together about $178. So we had to sign a pledge promising to pay the remaining amount on wedding day, December 15th."

The practice appears to be common among some ethnic groups in Mozambique, especially when a man decides to live with a woman without fulfilling the necessary obligations.

According to the family of the woman, the man lived with the woman, without going through all the marriage formalities. Read Full Story