VP puts GBV culprits on notice

ZANZIBAR: VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango has directed relevant organs to ensure that legal action is taken against people who commit Gender Based Violence (GBV) and cause students to suspend studies.

The Vice-President made the directive on Sunday when gracing the opening of the Maziwang’ombe Secondary School in Micheweni District, North Pemba Region as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Union.

Dr Mpango mentioned that GBV, which includes sexual abuse, early marriages and early pregnancy cases must be fought, adding that the problem of early marriages in North Pemba affects the well-being of female children and makes them miss various opportunities in life.

He added that both governments intend to promote gender equality by removing oppressive traditions and customs. The VP also appealed to parents and guardians to make sure all male and female children join Primary and Secondary Schools and graduate with ease.

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He said it is good to enrol all children of school age, monitor their progress and encourage them to study instead of participating in fishing and other income-generating activities. However, the VP urged citizens to take advantage of the best education system put in place by the governments to ensure that children get quality education.

Moreover, Dr Mpango stressed the importance of the community cooperating in children’s upbringing by following good traditions and customs, good morals and religious teachings that will save them from evils in the society.

He also urged citizens to protect the environment, saying that environmental pollution is a result of various human activities and is still the biggest problem that affects the efforts of government in bringing development in the country.

He instructed heads of schools to ensure that every student grows at least one tree of fruits or shade and take care of it, adding that the public must also plant trees and take care of them in their residential areas and other places. On the other hand, the Vice President said both governments are committed to continuing to protect and strengthen the Union to promote peace and stability for citizens’ development.

He said that in the 60 years of the Union, the country has achieved successes in education as the basic right of every Tanzanian, whereby great strides have been recorded in the increase in the education infrastructures, number of colleges and high learning institutions and number of students from Zanzibar who get loans from Higher Education Students’ Loan Board (HESLB).

“The government’s efforts in strengthening education infrastructure and various equipment including teaching and studying equipment, furniture and the availability of qualified teachers are sustainable,” Dr Mpango said.

On his part, Zanzibar’s Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ali Abdulgalam Hussein said that the opening of school is one of Union’s fruits which is marking 60 years.

He said the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training will continue to implement the CCM’s election manifesto to ensure education goals are achieved.

The construction of the three-storey school has cost 6.2 bn/- and is the first secondary school in Maziwang’ombe village that can take 1850 students at once with average of 45 students in each class.