Procuring loan to address husband’s body shaming

I have been married for more than 20 years and my husband keeps telling me my body looks like a ‘baby elephant’, yet I have given birth to four children. To address the situation, I want to procure a loan using our matrimonial home for purposes of undergoing plastic surgery outside the county, so I can regain my ‘antelope body’. Kindly advise me.

AB, Mwanza

We are sorry to hear about your husband’s utterances, which seem quite unfair. It is noteworthy that under the laws of Tanzania, a wife’s contribution to the family properties is generally recognized and protected. These properties include matrimonial properties, including matrimonial home. In this regard, neither spouse can mortgage such properties without the consent of the other spouse. Therefore, you cannot legally secure a loan using the matrimonial home for plastic surgery without your husband’s consent, just as he cannot do so without your consent. We advise you to discuss this with your husband as his consent will be required. Whilst this is beyond the scope of a legal opinion, you may also want to consider reducing food intake, working out and getting counselling to regain your ‘antelope body’. We wish you all the best.