Makinda urges women to vie for elective posts

SINGIDA: AS the nation gears up for the civic poll scheduled for November 27 this year, former Speaker of National Assembly, Ms Anne Makinda has urged women in the country to vie for various leadership positions.

Speaking during the women festival on civic polls in Singida Region recently, Ms Makinda called all women across the country to be more courageous in vying for various leadership positions as they are naturally bestowed with powers to contribute to efforts towards curbing the ongoing moral decline in the society.

Ms Makinda, who was the chief guest, pointed out that moral decay that is being witnessed today in the communities is largely contributed by an absence or small number of women in leadership posts at various levels.

“It is essential for women to take nomination forms and run for leadership positions in their communities during the upcoming local government elections on November 27 and next year’s general election. However, you cannot contest without first registering,” she stated.

She said the current widespread moral decline in society is indeed linked to the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.

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“I urge you to step forward in significant numbers during both the local government and General Elections to contest for all available positions,” she said.

Ms Makinda insisted that increasing the presence of women in leadership would greatly promote peace and foster a culture of love and unity within the country.

Meanwhile, Singida CCM Regional Chairperson Ms Martha Mlata encouraged women to vie for leadership posts particularly at the local, village and hamlet levels, where discrimination and abuse are prevalent.

She said that if women takes on leadership roles they would be better positioned to address various issues occurring at grassroots level.

Chairman for Singida region’s Members of Parliament and legislator for Ikungi East, Mr Miraji Mtaturu urged women to contest various positions without fear, highlighting that men fully support their efforts.

Singida Regional Commissioner Ms Halima Dendego expressed concern over the low representation of women in leadership roles in the region compared to men, a situation that pushed the region to organise the recent festival aimed at addressing this issue.

“For instance, out of 2,000 hamlets in Singida Region, women hold only 4 per cent of leadership positions. In the 441 villages, only five women have been elected as village chairpersons, representing just 1 percent. Moreover, among the 136 wards in the region, only four have female councilors,” she explained.

The RC further noted that in Singida Municipality, which has 53 streets, only three women submitted nomination forms and were elected. Furthermore, out of 11,000 positions allocated for local government committee members, only 3,125 women were elected.