Women leaders urge others to embrace political ambitions

Dar es Salaam. Following their victories in the recent Local Government Elections, newly elected female leaders are encouraging other women to pursue leadership roles despite the challenges.

Mtwara Ms Rukia Myachi, chairperson of Myegedi village in Mkunwa ward, emphasised the importance of resilience. "I faced many obstacles, from stereotypes to lack of support," she shared.

"But I persevered. This proves that women can lead effectively. Don't let challenges deter you. Step up and take on leadership roles to represent other women's voices."

Kasuru’s chairperson of Tabirugu village, Ms Leokadeki Koku, another successful candidate in the election, encouraged women to support one another in their political journeys. "Unity among women is crucial. We need to back each other up and push for gender equality in leadership," Ms Amina said. She also mentioned the need for more mentorship programmes to guide young women entering politics.

As she continues to serve in her new role, she is committed to mentoring the next generation of female leaders, ensuring that more women follow in their footsteps and break through the barriers that still exist.

Tanzania’s Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) board chairperson, Ms Gemma Akilimali, said that this year’s local government polls have seen a remarkable increase in women's involvement in the electoral process, taking over leadership roles even in areas that some of them had never been governed by women.

Ms Akilimali made the remarks during the 2024 Women in Leadership Summit, which, among other things, reflected on the 30 years after the Beijing Conference.

“I am delighted that our forum is being held after the local government election, where this year women were highly motivated to participate in the election process… Despite the challenges, many women have secured leadership positions in some areas, where women attained chairperson positions in local government for the very first time since these roles were established,” she said.

Ms Akilimali added: “This is something to be proud of and to celebrate; approximately 14 women from various parts of the country have secured the chairmanship positions.”.

She said this year’s forum is guided by the theme: “Celebrate, Reflect, and Envision for Beijing +30: Her Vision 2050,” saying there will also be the launch of a book documenting the Beijing journey and the presentation of awards to encourage women who have excelled in various roles.

Ms Akilimali called upon women to use the forum to build and strengthen networks and partnerships in advancing and solidifying the women’s agenda to bring transformative changes to their lives as individuals and as a society in general.

TGNP executive director, Ms Lilian Liundi, said that Tanzania has made significant strides 30 years after the Beijing Conference.

She said as of January 2019, the country ranked 2nd in East Africa with 36.9 percent of parliamentary seats held by women.

“This achievement is not just a statistic; it is a reflection of our resilience and strength as women united in purpose. We have witnessed groundbreaking moments, our first female president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and two powerful female speakers of the Parliament, Anne Makinda and Dr Tulia Ackson,” she said.

Ms Liundi cited Mkunwa Ward, in which, in the just-concluded local government election, almost 50 percent of hamlet chairpersons are women.

She said the achievements have been made possible through the leadership project that was being implemented by TGNP in the area with support from UN Women.

She further said that despite the progress, the number of women in local government is still low, noting that only 6.5 percent of women are councillors, adding that after the 2019 local government election, women made up only 2.1 percent of elected village chairpersons, 6.7 percent of elected hamlet chairpersons, and 12.6 percent of elected street chairpersons.

“These are very low numbers. We have to do something, especially at the local government.”

She said that despite the milestone, there are still challenges that women need to confront with unwavering courage and determination, such as the barriers they face, cultural biases, economic disparities, and systemic discrimination.

“Together we can dismantle these obstacles and advocate for policies that empower women at all levels of decision-making. Our voices are powerful tools for change. Let us envision a future where you and I lead with confidence in every sphere of life,” she said.

She called upon women to work towards increasing their participation in politics and leadership roles while fostering a supportive environment that nurtures their aspirations.