Championing change: Young women steps up to drive Tanzania's push for political equality

Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania gears up for the upcoming local government elections in November 2024 and the general election next year, there is a noticeable shift in the political landscape.

More young women are stepping forward to contest for various leadership positions. This change signals a significant move towards achieving the 50/50 gender equality agenda in political leadership, a target that has long eluded the nation.

Read: Is gender inequality a technical or political question?

Historically, Tanzanian women have faced numerous obstacles in entering the political arena. Cultural norms, economic constraints, and the lack of education have all contributed to their underrepresentation in leadership roles.

In the past, many young women viewed elections as irrelevant, or worse, as a battleground where they would have to navigate the deceitful waters of sexual bribery just to secure a party ticket.

Those barriers kept many capable women on the sidelines, depriving the country of their potential contributions to governance.

However, the tide is turning. The leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's first female president, has been a beacon of inspiration for many young women.

Her rise to the highest office in the land has shown that it is possible for women to break through the glass ceiling and take on significant roles in shaping the country's future.

The Msichana Initiative, a local organisation dedicated to empowering young women, has been at the forefront of this movement.

Through their project "Sauti Yetu, Nguvu Yetu" (Our Voice, Our Strength), they have trained over 200 girls across four regions, equipping them with the necessary skills and confidence in running for office.

The executive director of the organisation, Ms Rebecca Gyumi, emphasises the importance of this training in helping young women overcome the challenges they face in the political arena, particularly the issue of sexual bribery.

"We want them to understand that sexual bribery is against the Constitution," says Ms Gyumi. "When they encounter such requests, they should have the courage to report them. We will support them in every way possible so that we can build a generation ready to bring about change in society without relying on the same old people."

The significance of young women's participation in politics cannot be overstated. According to the 2022 census, approximately 75 percent of those aged 15-35 in Tanzania are young people, making them a crucial demographic in the country's elections.

In the 2020 elections, 50.72 percent of those who voted were young people. Despite this, less than 30 percent of parliamentarians are under the age of 40, highlighting the gap between participation and actual representation.

A young leader from Nzega, Tabora, Loveness Athuman, is among those who have decided to step into the political arena.

"I have decided to brace myself and enter politics, starting with the position of councilor," she says.

"I believe that through various training programmes that have built my confidence, I will win and become a representative of other young people. It is high time we, as young, people filled the parliament and decision-making spaces, especially us as women," she added.

Another young woman leader, Mwajuma Hima from Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, echoed this sentiment, saying that she was planning to run for the position of local government chairperson and later for councilor.

"We should not be afraid if we want our voices to be heard. At least young men are stepping forward; now we must be ready so that young people can take leadership positions at all levels in this country," she says.

Political analysts argue that the participation of young women in elections is a critical step towards achieving the 50/50 gender equality agenda.

"To successfully achieve gender equality in political leadership, women empowerment is inevitable," says one expert.

"It is not just about getting women into positions of power; it is about ensuring that they have the support and resources they need to succeed once they get there."

The upcoming elections present a unique opportunity for Tanzania to make significant strides towards gender equality. However, achieving this goal will require more than just encouraging young women to run for office.

It will also require a concerted effort from all stakeholders to address the systemic barriers that have long kept women out of leadership roles.

Human rights defenders suggest that more women get leadership positions to make the defence against gender-based violence (GBV) easier. They argue that women in power are more likely to advocate policies and laws that protect the womenfolk and girls from violence and discrimination.

"When women are in leadership positions, they bring a different perspective to the table, one that is often more attuned to the needs and rights of women and girls," says a human rights advocate, Ms Halima Geoffrey.

As the clock ticks down to the November 2024 local government elections, it is clear that the momentum is building. The rise of young women leaders is not just a passing trend; it is a reflection of a broader movement towards gender equality in Tanzania.

The strategies being employed by organizations, like the Msichana Initiative, are vital to ensuring that young women are not just participants in the political process, but are also contenders for leadership roles.