Put up strategies for increased participation of women in leadership
DEPUTY Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives Mgeni Hassan Juma has appealed to political parties in the country to put in place and implement policies that will offer opportunities to women to contest leadership posts in the coming October elections.
DEPUTY Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives Mgeni Hassan Juma
Speaking in Zanzibar at the weekend, Hassan said there are still big challenges in the political parties that do not give equal opportunities to their members who need to contest for leadership posts.
She said even though the parties often foster such policies remain on papers only.
The deputy Speaker said the Special Seats positions for women is the opportunity for the women to fight for membership in constituencies and not to remain idle believing they will not succeed.
“In order to succeed we, women, must have aims before contesting so that we defeat our opponents,” she said.
The CCM representative for Kiwengwa constituency Asha Abdallah Mussa said women who want to contest for leadership posts should conduct research as well as instill physical influence among members within the decision making organs of the party.
She advised Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) in Zanzibar that when time comes it should mobilise women who believe they are acceptable in the society.
She however admitted that there is a big problem in Zanzibar especially for many women failing to come out for fear of contesting against men in elections.
CHADEMA Women Organization inZanzibar North Region Mwanamrisho Abama said there is a need of making amendments of the Political Parties Act to allocate elective seats for women in constituencies in addition to special seats posts.
Halima Ibrahim from ACT-Wazalendo said there is a need for women from their parties to make sure they become members of the panels that issue final decisions in the parties.
She said in many parties’ sittings which make final decisions the number of women therein is very small and in case of a vote, these women fail to defend their fellow women.
She said even though the parties often foster such policies remain on papers only.
The deputy Speaker said the Special Seats positions for women is the opportunity for the women to fight for membership in constituencies and not to remain idle believing they will not succeed.
“In order to succeed we, women, must have aims before contesting so that we defeat our opponents,” she said.
The CCM representative for Kiwengwa constituency Asha Abdallah Mussa said women who want to contest for leadership posts should conduct research as well as instill physical influence among members within the decision making organs of the party.
She advised Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) in Zanzibar that when time comes it should mobilise women who believe they are acceptable in the society.
She however admitted that there is a big problem in Zanzibar especially for many women failing to come out for fear of contesting against men in elections.
CHADEMA Women Organization inZanzibar North Region Mwanamrisho Abama said there is a need of making amendments of the Political Parties Act to allocate elective seats for women in constituencies in addition to special seats posts.
Halima Ibrahim from ACT-Wazalendo said there is a need for women from their parties to make sure they become members of the panels that issue final decisions in the parties.
She said in many parties’ sittings which make final decisions the number of women therein is very small and in case of a vote, these women fail to defend their fellow women.
