These women came, saw and conquered

The just concluded General Election gave Tanzania among other things; the first female Vice President, Ms Samiah Hassan Suluhu. The outgoing Parliament’s Speaker Ms Anne Makinda was among few women in the country holding big government positions.

As Ms Suluhu is celebrated, the election also saw a number of female candidates winning and defeating some of the veteran and vibrant members of the Parliament.

Esther Bulaya for example, won the Bunda Urban constituency defeating the long serving MP and minister Stephen Wasira, whereas Ms Hasna Mwilima whitewashed the outspoken MP David Kafulila. The continued triumph over male dominance has seen Ms Esther Matiko become the female elected MP for Tarime Rural.

The Parliament will witness more new female MPs this time ‘round while some graduated from special seats to vying for constituencies.

So far we have more than 25 female MPs already, a contrast to the lesser number that existed in previous elections.

Representatives

These are women who’ll represent different constituencies in Tanzania’s Government. Others are embarking on the political road for the first time, while others had other political posts in the previous administration.

New faces

Mboni Mhita - Handeni (CCM)

She is the former ruling party’s youth wing (UVCCM) national vice chairperson, this year she was appointed the Mufindi District Commissioner before contesting and winning a Parliamentary seat for Handeni.

Bonnah Kaluwa - Segerea (CCM)

She is the former councilor for Kipawa ward and the founder of Bonnah Education Trust Fund a nonprofit organisation that campaigns for education to all but specific to underprivileged children by providing financial assistance to poor bright students, orphans and those living with HIV who cannot afford secondary education fees and other related costs.

Angelina Mabula –Ilemela (CCM)

She is a former CCM Women’s wing (UWT), Muleba District Commissioner, Butiama District Commissioner and Iringa District Commissioner.

Dr Ashatu Kijaji - Kondoa Rural (CCM)

She was a Senior Lecturer, Researcher and Consultant. She worked at Mzumbe University as Director- Institute of Development Studies.

Naghenjwa Kaboyoka - Same East (Chadema)

She is an activist; she contested for the constituency two times and was defeated both times by the famous and outspoken outgoing ruling party’s MP Ms Anne Kilango Malecela, in 2005 and 2010 General Elections before winning  this year’s election.

Hasna Mwilima - Kigoma South (CCM)

She is the Arumeru District Commissioner; she won the constituency that was under the vibrant NCCR’s MP David Kafulila.

Graduated from Special Seats

Women activists have been campaigning to encourage fellow women to not wait for special seats positions but vie for the Constituencies. This year, a number of special seat MPs contested and defeated some veteran politicians.

 Esther Bulaya - Bunda Urban (Chadema)

She is a former journalist. She was a special seat MP through the ruling party (CCM). During the initial stages of the 2015 General Election she was among a considerably large number of the ruling party’s MPs to defect to opposition party by joining Chadema.

She first contested for a special seat position through her new party and was defeated during the nomination stage before she moved on to vie for the Bunda Urban constituency where she defeated a veteran MP and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mr Stephen Wasira.

Esther Matiko - Tarime Rural (Chadema)

She beat the odds of a male dominated society by becoming the first elected Member of Parliament. She was among the popular and outspoken opposition MPs during her tenure as a special seat representative in the government. Prior to her political career, she was a lecturer.

Janeth Mbene - Ileje (CCM)

She was a nominated MP and served as the Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade and Marketing of the outgoing cabinet.  She is an Economist and a business Consultant. Mbene’s political journey is still in motion.

Dr Pudenciana Kikwembe - Kavuu (CCM)

She is a teacher by profession. She went to Monduli Teaching College, University of Dar es Salaam and Liaoning University of China for similar courses (education).

She worked in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and lectured at Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) in Dodoma. She was a special seat MP on the outgoing parliament.

Mary Chatanda - Korogwe Urban (CCM)

She is a former Personal Secretary Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government also served as CCM regional secretary for Arusha. She was a special seat MP.

Suzan Kiwanga - Mlimba (Chadema)

She’s been Chadema’s Morogoro Chairperson since 2009. Before vying for the constituency she was a special seat MP.

Margaret Sitta - Urambo East (CCM)

She was a special seat MP and served as Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children in the outgoing cabinet, she was also a minister for Education and Vocational Training.

She served as Principal Education Officer with the Ministry of Education and Culture, head of Department Workers’ Education Tanzania Federation of Trade Unions and District Education Officer. She was also Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania and President of the Tanzania Teachers’ Union. She is a University of Dar es Salaam graduate and a teacher.

Saada Mkuya - Welezo (CCM)

She attained her Diploma in Business Studies from Stamford College in Malaysia. She graduated from The Open University of Tanzania in 2009 with a master’s degree in Business and also attained her MBA from Heriot-Watt University.  She is currently pursuing her PhD  in business administration from The Open University of Tanzania.

She was a nominated MP in 2012 and was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Finance. In January 2014, she succeeded William Mgimwa as the 14th Minister of Finance.

Pauline Gekul - Babati Urban (Chadema)

She is a University of Dar es Salaam graduate. Her previous career was in the banking sector where she worked as a Credit officer at Pride Tanzania.

Eng. Stella Manyanya (53years) - Nyasa (CCM)

She is a Rukwa Regional Commissioner and a special seat MP. She went to Trodheim Technical College (NTNU) Norway and University of Dar es Salaam where she pursued electrical studies.

She worked with various government institutions such as Tanesco and Stamico. She was a member in various committees in her party such as membership in National Operation Committee (parents), Women Wing (UWT) in Ruvuma, and Economic Committee among others.

Magdalena Sakaya - Kaliua (CUF)

She is Civic United Front (CUF) Deputy Secretary General for Mainland Tanzania. She is a Sokoine University of Agriculture graduate. She worked as a Livestock Field Officer for MB-VETA and a capacity building officer for Wami-Mbiki. Before vying for the constituency, she was a special seat MP through the same party (CUF).

Those who retained their Seats

Hawa Abdulrahman Ghasia: The 46 year old Member of Parliament was nominated as a (CCM) candidate for Mtwara Rural District in the 2005 parliamentary election. She has since held that position.

Following the 2005 elections, she was appointed as Minister of State in the President’s Office for Public Service and Management from 2006 to 2010. She also served as Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government from 2010 to 2015.   

Prof Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka:  She has been CCM’s Member of Parliament for Muleba South Constituency since 2010. She attended Sokoine University of Agriculture and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences where she pursued different degrees in Agricultural Economics.  She is an Agri-economist by profession.

She served as Minister of Lands Housing and Human Settlement Developments from 2010 to 2014.

Prof Tibaijuka is also a former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of the UN-Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) from 2006 to 2010.

Halima James Mdee: The outspoken politician has been Chadema’s Member of Parliament for Kawe since 2010 and this year she retained her seat. She is Chairperson for Chadema’s women wing (Bawacha).

Before she decided to opt for politics she was employed as a Development Officer in the Ministry of Labour and Employment from 2004 to 2005.

She is a law graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam. She also studied at Zanaki Secondary school for her A levels and Kilakala girl’s secondary school for O level.

Jenister Joakim Mhagama: The ambitious politician defended her Peramiho constituency in the 2015 General Elections.

She was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Education and Vocational Training in 2014. She also served as National Assembly chairperson.

Ms Mhagama is a Teacher by profession. She graduated with a Diploma in education from Korogwe Tanga in 1990.

Dr Mary Michael Nagu: The 63 year old veteran has been a CCM politician and Member of Parliament for Hanang constituency since 2005. This year she defended her seat.  She served as a minister in different ministries during Benjamini Mkapa’s regime. These were; minister for Community Development, Women Affairs and Children, minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. In the year 2006 to 2008 she was appointed as minister for Trade and Industry and she served as the minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office for Investment and Empowerment from 2010 to 2015. 

She is an Economist. Dr Nagu went to Weruweru secondary school where she attained a certificate in A level studies and later to Kilakala girl’s secondary School for her O levels before joining the University of Dar es Salaam.

Lolesia Bukwimba:  She became a CCM politician and MP for Busanda constituency since 2010 and has defended her seat. She is a graduate from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).