Turn anti-violence pledges into action, minister tells men

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR Minister for Labour, Employment, Youth and Empowerment, Ali Suleiman Ameir, has urged men to take a leading role in combating gender-based violence (GBV), strengthening families and addressing challenges facing young people.

Mr Ameir made the call at Rahaleo in Unguja Urban District during the launch of the Tanzania Men’s Union, where he emphasised the responsibility of men to build peaceful, united and economically stable families and communities.

He said men should use their positions as parents, guardians and community leaders to protect families and promote social wellbeing rather than engage in behaviour that causes harm.

The minister urged men to speak out against violence against women and children, including physical abuse, mistreatment and family abandonment.

“When we see a woman being beaten, abused or abandoned, we should not remain silent. As men, we must condemn such acts and ensure our society is protected,” he said.

Mr Ameir also called on men to address poverty and economic challenges by engaging in productive activities, seeking employment, starting businesses and pursuing other income-generating opportunities to improve household incomes.

He said young men needed greater opportunities and proper guidance to contribute to national development, noting that many faced challenges such as unemployment, school dropout, drug abuse and limited income-generating opportunities.

The minister further urged men to take responsibility for caring for their families, including older people, children and other vulnerable groups, stressing that sustainable development required the participation and wellbeing of all members of society.

He clarified that the Tanzania Men’s Union should not be viewed as an organisation established to oppose women, but rather as a platform for cooperation between men and women in addressing family challenges, preventing violence and promoting equality.

Mr Ameir urged the union’s leaders to conduct research, identify challenges facing men and boys, and develop practical action plans in collaboration with the government and development partners.

He challenged the organisation to translate its objectives into tangible results, urging members to take responsibility for implementing agreed activities.

ALSO READ: ‘Bodaboda’ riders lured to Anti-GBV campaigns through sport competitions

“The union should be a union of action, not a union in name only,” he said, calling on members to plan, implement and monitor initiatives aimed at strengthening families and improving community welfare.

The union’s chairman, Mr Claude Benedict Kimu, said the organisation aimed to strengthen parenting and moral values, economically empower men, promote health and wellbeing, safeguard peace and unity, and encourage men to fulfil their responsibilities within families and society.

Mr Kimu urged men to abandon the practice of abandoning their families and encouraged them to join the organisation to help build stronger households and a peaceful, united nation.

He said society needed responsible men committed to fulfilling their family obligations, adding that strong families played an important role in raising disciplined children and promoting community wellbeing.

Reading the union’s statement, its secretary, Mr John Sagata, called for stronger supervision and guidance of boys from an early age to help them grow into responsible men, good fathers and productive members of society.

Mr Sagata said proper upbringing and parental guidance were essential to developing a morally responsible generation and safeguarding the future of families and the nation.

He also called on the government to formally recognise the organisation and involve men in national development plans and decision-making processes aimed at strengthening families and communities.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Mr Khatib Mwadini Khatib, said the union should promote good moral values in raising children and young people while safeguarding Zanzibar’s traditions and cultural values.

Zanzibar City Deputy Mayor, Mr Khaitham Muhidin Khamis, said cooperation between the Men’s Union and the Women’s Union was important in addressing challenges facing young people, particularly boys, and improving their upbringing