THE ROAD TO ELECTIONS: Fresh impetus for women leadership role

TANZANIA: WOMEN activists have underscored the need for the government to continue reviewing policies, laws and guidelines governing both civic polls and general elections as well as political parties, to ultimately increase the number of women in various leadership positions.

Reports show that although women representation in various sectors is increasing, the pace is still slow, something which needs more efforts to ensure their increased participation in election and their number in various bodies.

Speaking during the national conference to promote the collection of women’s views on the 2050 National Development Vision recently, the activists were concerned that despite progress in women inclusion, there are still gaps which hinder participation of women in election various leadership positions and decision-making bodies.

The symposium brought together more than 200 gender activists from various gender advocacy groups.

Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) Chairperson, Ms Gemma Akilimali, said improving the laws and policies would create a friendlier environment for women to vie for leadership positions and participate in decision making.

She called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to break cycles of inequalities and increase participation of women in elections and their number in various leadership positions.

Ms Akilimali said voices of women in rural areas and towns are not heard and considered despite their competency.

According to her, there is a good number of women who are competent and can contribute well if given the opportunity but due to various reasons including geographical locations, they fail to vie for different posts within their political parties.

“Women have rights to vie for various leadership positions in communities, the TGNP has been working closely with the government and various development stakeholders to improve the environment and increase women participation in various fields ranging from economic, political and social matters,” she added.

Ms Akilimali called on women across the country to actively participate in the coming civic polls later this years and general elections next year as well as providing their views in the ongoing preparations of the National Development Vision 2050 (NDV 2050).

She emphasised that it was crucial for women to come forward in large numbers to advance the struggle for women’s liberation, ensuring access to national resources and to take part in making decisions for national issues.

Dr Ave Maria Semakafu, country coordinator of the Tanzania Women Cross Party (TWCP) – Ulingo platform, said many leadership positions in political parties are taken by men with women having low representation.

She urged political parties to stop creating hurdles for women who are inspired to vie for leadership but rather support them to realise their goals.

Dr Semakafu noted that political parties are the major gatekeepers in determining candidates with qualifications to vie for certain posts.

Parties play a critical role in enabling or blocking women’s participation in decision-making processes, so they must ensure they increase the number of women in those positions.

“Top leaders in political parties have a big role to play to make sure that women are given opportunity without facing any kind of setbacks, because for a long-time women have been complaining about being mistreated or given fewer chances to vie for leadership positions,” she noted.

She encouraged women to work hard, be confident and not hesitate to vie for leadership positions in the forthcoming elections so as to prove capabilities in serving the public.

Also read: Women encouraged to take part in leadership

She underscored the need to have a close follow up on any rising challenge during elections.

“Many people are unaware of local government election principles, the situation that undermines efforts to promote women participation in the coming elections,” she added.

Ms Rose Marandu, Executive Director of Women Fund Tanzania–Trust (WFT-T) called upon women not to fear vying for leadership positions in the next local government elections.

According to her, members of the network have a role to advocate for the change of mindsets in the society towards women’s participation in leadership, noting that negative mindsets are result of cultural barriers, lack of confidence and awareness.

“It is important we continue to advocate for change and educate communities in remote areas to know the importance of valuing power of women. Leaders of political parties also need to promote equality in their parties,” she said.

Ms Marandu also noted that Article 12(1) of Tanzania’s constitution says, “All human beings are born free, and all are equal.” Article 13 (1-5) further elaborates by prohibiting all forms of discrimination, including gender discrimination.

The 2020-2025 National Development Vision also emphasises on the Gender mainstreaming: including, focusing on measures that address gender inequalities against women and girls; increased opportunities for girl education and training; swift measures against discrimination in matters of land ownership and inheritance, violence against women and intensified voice against archaic cultural biases against women.

It also sought to promote community participation in development processes with special provisions for youths, women and People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Reports by the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, show that women ministers had increased from six in December 2005 cabinet to eight ministers in December 2010.

In December 2015 there were 10 ministers that dropped to four ministers in December 2020. As of April 2024, the cabinet had seven women ministers and four deputy ministers.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for 2020 indicates a total of 264 election constituencies in the United Republic of Tanzania of which 50 are in Zanzibar islands. It states that four popular political parties had at least 20 per cent of women candidates in constituencies for the 2020 general elections.

The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) from the 264 constituencies picked 27 women candidates for the Member of Parliament (MP) positions.

The leading opposition party CHADEMA had chosen 64 women, ACT Wazalendo had 23 women candidates and the Civil United Front (CUF) had 32 candidates.

NBS indicates that sitting elected women MPs in the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania are 26 (10 per cent) of the 264 total elected MPs.

Special seats MPs are 113 forming a total of 139 women MPs (37 per cent) of all 393 MPs in 12th National Assembly.

Elected women ward councillors are 204 (3.8 per cent) special seats councillors are 1,611 (30 per cent) making a total of 1,815 women councillors (33.8 per cent) of 5,353 total councillors. Men councillors are 5,149 (96.2 per cent). Mainland Tanzania has a total of 185 district council chairpersons of whom six (3.2 per cent) are women.