TANZANIA: Women Are Encouraged To Contest For Political Positions
As Tanzania prepares for Local Government and General Election, The Interfaith Committee in Tanzania has conducted a two days workshop for women on women’s political participation.
The two days workshop conducted at Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), from 4th to 5th September 2019 was pioneered by TEC, the Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata) and Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), involving 100 women countrywide.
Addressing the women during the Symposium, General Secretary of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Fr Charles Kitima said that it is a constitutional right for a woman to seek leadership so as to participate fully in promoting the economy.
“It is a constitutional right for a woman to rule according to the law as the Constitution of Tanzania says that authority and control will come from the people and also all women have the right to participate in promoting the economy of the country,” he said.
Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
He said that women own a large part of the informal economy sectors so they need to have a good governance structure in order to bring forth development in the community and increase the need for a better society for women. He added that religious leaders in the country including Christian and Muslims want to promote women to contest for different positions in the country because they have ability, and courage.
“The hour has come that women must lead nations, must lead the world. They are less corrupt than men, they know how to mother according to their nature. We religious leaders want to change the mindset of the society that women are weak. Women are strong people with ability to lead. So we want this term to have women in the parliament, contest for different positions in the country for the development of this nation,” he said.
On obstacles to women’s political participation, Fr Kitima said that the obvious are traditional and cultural barriers, which are entrenched on social norms and attitude against women as leaders and decision makers. He acknowledges the importance of women to have the necessary social and family support to overcome that.
“It is time to highlight the importance of women in politics, in decision making and leading the nations,” he said.
On behalf of Government, a member of Elections Secretariat from the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government commended the religious leaders for organizing the training saying that the workshop will encourage women to wake up and contest for leadership positions in the coming election. She further said that the government has set all election plans that will allow women to contest and the election will be free and fair.
Pastor Maila Benjamin from the CCT said that God created women with ability to work. If elected, they will bring economic changes because they work with integrity.
The Chairman of National Muslim Women Mrs. Hajjiat Shamim Khan has also called upon women to dare to stand up for the opportunity without fear. She said that she has been Member of Parliament, Minister and has held other political positions in the country since 1985, so she wants young women to contest and bring forth economic development.The local government elections in Tanzania will be held in October 2019.
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