DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA Centre for Democracy (TCD) has launched a women’s forum to promote the group participation in politics and democracy.
Gracing the event held recently in Dar es Salaam, TCD Chairperson Prof Ibrahimu Lipumba urged women to use the platform for positive discussions on issues that affect them.
“I encourage women to use this platform to come together, discuss and address the challenges they are facing,” Prof Lipumba Said.
He urged women to constructively use their forum to demand a constitution that reflect citizens’ views.
The forum was launched in Dar es Salaam with the goal of establishing a special platform to encourage women to participate in politics and decision-making.
The forum targeted TCD summit leaders, TCD partner parties, women wing leaders at national and regional levels and representatives from women’s rights organisations.
TCD Director Bernadetha Kafuko emphasised the importance of creating a friendly policy environment for women to engage in politics and elections.
“We need to work out policy so that they become friendly to allow more women to enter into politics and elections fearlessly,” Kafuko explained.
“We would like the upcoming women into politics to get mentorship programmes so that they are emboldened and participate fully in politics,” he said.
The event was attended by distinguished female guests with a stake in politics and leadership, including Jokate Mwegelo Secretary General of Chama Cha Mapinduzi Women’s Wing, Hawa Ghasia, former Minister of State, President’s Office-Regional Administrations and Local Governments (PO-RALG), and former Members of Parliament Susan Lyimo (CUF) and Suzanne Kimwaga (CHADEMA).
Switzerland Ambassador Didier Chassot expressed support for TCD and the promotion of political dialogue in Tanzania.
“Indeed, we are convinced that inclusive and participatory political processes that involve state and non-State actors such as women, youths, civil society organisations and marginalised groups are essential for democracy and peace,” he explained.
He highlighted the importance of inclusive political processes involving various actors, including women, youths, civil society organisations and marginalised groups, for democracy and peace.
US Ambassador Michael Battle praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her leadership and the intentional inclusion of women and youths in Tanzania.
He emphasised the need to support and promote women’s participation in politics, elections and democracy.
“Tanzania is in the right direction by intentionally including women and youths. Women outnumber men in all nations in the world. At the core of all liberations in the world has been women,” Battle explained, as he showed the necessity of supporting and promoting women participation in politics.
Anna Rioba who is a member of Civil United Front (CUF), speaking on behalf of TCD women, reiterated the organisation’s resolutions for inclusivity, targeting youths, women, and people with disabilities.
The women’s forum is sponsored by Switzerland Embassy, while a youth forum held in Dar es Salaam a month ago is sponsored by the US Embassy
