In Tanzania, women are being urged to actively engage in leadership roles at the local government level to drive the change they aspire to see within their communities. This call to action emerged during an open dialogue on women’s safe spaces, centered on leadership, organized by the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) in collaboration with United Nations Women (UN Women), aiming to foster greater female participation in leadership positions.
The dialogue featured testimonials from various female local leaders, sharing their personal journeys in leadership to inspire other women to pursue opportunities in different local government capacities.
Addressing the gathering, TGNP Executive Director, Ms. Lilian Luindi, underscored the crucial role women play within communities. She emphasized that women's presence in leadership positions and decision-making forums is vital for addressing the myriad challenges faced by women directly.
Recognizing the significant contributions of women, who constitute more than half of Tanzania's population (51.3% as per the 2022 Census), to the nation's development, Ms. Luindi highlighted the government's commitment to international and regional agreements promoting human equality, including rights and equal participation in leadership roles at all levels.
Through the sharing of experiences by female leaders, Ms. Luindi expressed optimism that women would gain insights into the leadership journey, empowering them to contest in the upcoming elections and seize numerous opportunities.
Providing statistical insights, she noted that out of 264 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), only 25 are women, representing a mere 9.5% of all MPs. However, with 113 women MPs appointed through Special Seats, comprising 29% of the total MPs, the overall number of women MPs stands at 142, constituting 37% of the total.
Ms. Luindi identified prevalent challenges hindering women's leadership aspirations, citing cultural norms and financial constraints as significant barriers.
Sharing her personal leadership journey, Farida Abdallah Mohamed, a special seat councillor for Mtwara District, emphasized perseverance and resilience among women aspiring for leadership roles. She encouraged women not to relent in their pursuit of leadership positions, underscoring the potential for collective action to drive positive change, foster economic empowerment, and spur community development.
Facilitating the dialogue, Mary Nsemwa stressed the importance of learning from successful female leaders, highlighting how such narratives can embolden more women across Tanzania to step forward and assume leadership roles at local and national levels.