Wife or Widow? Newly divorced woman fights for ex husbands body and property for this reason

A lady battling for both his body and property after losing her husband shortly after their recent divorce.

The 54-year-old coordinator of the Botswana Open University, Chawapa Thabo, is said to have killed himself.

Thabo and his ex-wife Silvia Thabo, nee Moalosi, had received a decree nisi for their divorce from Justice Tshepo Motswagole of the Gaborone High Court on September 23, the day before he passed away.

The decree nisi was to become absolute after six weeks, per the court ruling. On the final day of the sixth week, Thabo passed away.

One day after Thabo's passing, Silvia showed up at the Gaborone home where he shared a residence with his niece in Ledumadumane, demanded her 'husband's' property, and insisted on organizing the funeral.

However, Shanganani Lisenda, a relative of Thabo, and other members of the family dug in their heels and refused to work with the widow, pulling out the suicide note that also contained a stern warning for Silvia's sidekick and the court order proving that she had been divorced.

“Silvia and Mpotokwane Montsheki (teacher at Tonota JSS) Mopotokwane should and must not harass my children at any given time or else you would be cursed, cursed, cursed and walk the streets naked,” Thabo had fired in the note warning his ex-wife and her alleged sidekick.

The 39-year-old Silvia from Mathangwane then immediately rushed to court and filed an urgent application to interdict the funeral before Justice Michael Leburu.

Submitting arguments in court this Wednesday on behalf of Silvia, attorney Mooketsi Segaise said his client’s interest was to secure her husband’s property. He said since the decree absolute was not granted, Silvia is not a divorcee but a widow.