THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT CELEBRATES 100
DAYS OF HER EXCELLENCY MADAM PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN IN OFFICE
WE CELEBRATE HER EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN’S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FOR BRINGING INTO OUR POLITICAL CULTURE AN ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE CHARACTERIZED BY CIVILITY, HUMILITY, FIRMNESS, & THE RULE OF LAW.
When President Samia was sworn into office, she had to
reassure some of the Tanzanians who were doubtful of her capability to take
over the presidency from the late President Magufuli who passed away on 17th
March this year (2021) when she said,
“I know, there will be some few people
who worry that due to my gender, I will not be able to fulfill all that I have
said here. I want to use this platform (the
Parliament)
to allay their fears that, first of all, Allah
did not create a weak brain for a woman and a brain with great potential for a
man. Growth and mental alertness depend on the community around you and the
activities you have. I want to assure you that I have been brought up in the
right society and that I have enough experience in the Government and in my
Political Party CCM. Therefore, I am confident that I have the power to lead this Nation. Second, I will not do this work alone but I will work with all Tanzanians.
In our opinion, this was a significant breakthrough, which has set a stage and defined her journey for the
past 100 days. For the past 100 days, we have watched her Excellency using ‘her
power’ to:
Define the principles which are going to guide her
leadership: the rule of law, freedom of expression, inclusiveness and gender
equality, accountability, and democratic principles.
“The
first and most important thing we will pay attention to in these five years is
to continue to protect and maintain the values of our nation, namely Peace,
Unity and Solidarity, Independence of our country, the Glorious Revolution of Zanzibar
and our Union. As you know, peace and unity are the key to development in any
nation. Therefore, I urge my fellow Tanzanians to work together to protect
these values”.
These principles are constitutional principles which ought
to guide all individuals, especially those in positions of power. During these
100 days, we have witnessed her Excellency translating some of these principles
into operational practices. At a personal level, ‘she walks the talk’. She
has taken on the presidency with humility and respect, but with firmness in
matters of accountability, the rule of law, and consensus building, hence
earning respect from the majority of peace-loving citizens and particularly us,
the women of this country.
She brings into our country the
additional value of enhancing a political culture characterized by civility,
personal integrity, and respect of law.
Within these 100 days, she has set the stage that is
gradually transforming the political landscape through initiating national
dialogues with various actors, including : the elderly from whom she gets their
wisdom, the youth whom she inspires and expertly lends her ears to listen to
their views on matters related to their interests; the private sector, to
enlist their trust in investing in the country, service workers to listen to
their long-standing grievances; women to get their views and share her
aspiration of and commitment to promoting gender equality; religious leaders to
enlist their moral support in building national unity; members of opposition
parties to rebuild trust and regain consensus in matters of national interest;
and finally the leadership cadre to demand accountability and respect of the
rule of law.
The national dialogue is intended to
strengthen Unity and Peace as the nation focuses more on what constitutes our
National Interests within a context of multiple diversities which are
accommodated.
Peace and Unity are pillars which impact
our (women’s) daily lives differently in our diverse positions. Whenever there
are tensions and conflict, it is women and children, particularly the girl
child, who disproportionately carry the burden of conflicts either as rape
victims of war, experience homelessness or become refugees with their children.
Reactivating the principles of rule
of law, freedom of speech, and organizing.
There are a few steps the President has taken which
demonstrate a move towards enhancing respect for the rule of law. For example,
the arrest of a District Commissioner who had been acting as a powerful
autocrat and allegedly engaging in criminal offences sent a powerful message to
all political appointees that none is above the law. Similarly, the release of
religious leaders who had been in custody for a very long time (9 years)
without a right to bail due to the nature of accusations made against them,
sent another powerful message to the justices that “justice delayed is justice denied[1]”.
The dismissal of charges by the High Court against members of political parties
is yet another signal of respecting justice and the rule of law.
Recently, we have witnessed the DPP changing charges on
individuals who had been accused under the Economic Sabotage (Special
Provisions) Act, which denies such individuals a right to bail, to lesser
charges which give such individuals a right to bail. Some business people and
politicians who had their bank accounts frozen without any court case have had
their accounts opened (case of Hon. Freeman Mbowe). Indeed, the ‘narrative is
slowly changing’.
Absence of the rule of law leads to the victimization of
women and girls particularly in gender-based violence including sexual
corruption. Our main concern here is, the very fact that there are loopholes in
our books of law which allow people in power and authority to temper these
principles which are enshrined in our constitution threatens the sustainability
of the measures which are currently being undertaken. For example, the DPP is
not given a time limit for investigation, hence innocent persons have remained
in custody for a decade, only to be declared innocent. And when found guilty,
they have already served a long time in custody. This is an area we wish to
work with the current regime in identifying legal barriers which confer
excessive powers to duty bearers who oftentimes abuse such powers.
Related to the Rule of law is the freedom of expression, the
right to be informed and democracy. This is well articulated by her Excellency
when she said,
“…Other areas include continuing to
protect the foundations of democracy and freedom of the people as well as the
media. As you know, freedom and democracy are the foundations of peace in the
country and also help to stimulate political, economic, and social development.
However, I would like to say that there is no freedom or democracy that is not
protected and governed by laws, procedures and regulations.… Thus, in addition
to democracy and the freedom of the people, I urge Tanzanians to be determined
to carry out our activities in accordance with the provisions of the laws of
the land”.
During a swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Permanent
Secretaries on April 6th 2021, Her Excellency ordered the Minister
of Information to lift the ban on media outlets which were banned on the
grounds of criticizing the government stating, “I am told you revoked licenses of
some media outlets, including some online television stations. You should lift
the ban but tell them to follow the law and government guidelines”. The
regulations, she said, must be open and punishment issued by authorities must
be in line with the specific offence.
As we celebrate this move, we are also concerned that
existing laws grant the Minister of Information powers to deregister a media
outlet for reasons not related to the abuse of law. Again, this is an area we
wish to support her Excellency in reviewing the media laws in view of removing
loopholes which allow a person in power to silence voices which are critical to
the development of democratic governance.
Commitment to Gender Equality
Principles
In a meeting at the State house with the Under Secretary
General and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on
Strengthening Partnerships ahead of the Generation Equality Forum, President
Samia expressed her commitment to fulfilling the vision outlined in the Beijing
Declaration and attain the targets for 50/50 gender parity in leadership. She
further admitted that while Tanzania is far from attaining the 50/50 targets,
she will work towards achieving this goal during her leadership. She also
offered to lead the Economic Justice and Rights Action Coalition ahead of the
Generation Equality Forum in Paris starting on 30th June 2021.
She re-emphasized this commitment when addressing the Women
of Tanzania, on 6th June 2021, by assuring them that she believes in
gender equality principles, is committed to ensuring that women’s rights are
respected, and that she will appoint (qualified) women to take up leadership
positions.
The President further acknowledged that her current position
has resulted from long term struggles by women in demanding participation in
leadership positions including top level leadership. She further admitted the
multiple barriers which women face in attaining economic empowerment. In this
area, she committed to task responsible agencies to ensure women’s access to
loans including the mandatory allocation of 4% of local government funds, as
well as soliciting formal banks to open windows for soft loans for women.
The current composition of the leadership which she
nominated includes two categories of leadership which nearly attained the
threshold of 50/50, that is Regional Administrative Officers of whom 46% are
women; and Judges, of whom 43% are women. Other than the two categories of
leadership which nearly reached the Maputo Protocol and AU Solemn Declaration
of 50%; her other appointees so far, (except for DCs) have not reached the
minimum benchmark of the SADC Declaration of 30% which was later updated by the
Maputo Declaration into the 50/50 benchmark.
For example, out of the 23 Cabinet Ministers, only 5 female full
ministers (22%, a decline from 30% in 2012); out of the 26 Deputy Ministers,
only 6 (23%) are females; out of 24 Permanent Secretaries, only 4 (16%) are
females and out of 24 Deputy Permanent Secretaries only 5 (21%), Out of 26
Regional Commissioners,5 (19%) are females. Out of the 139 District
Commissioners, only 44 (32%) were women. The District Commissioners had a good
mix of young people who were composed of 28% males and 20% females (these were
under the age of 35).
What accounts for gender gaps in
nomination processes?
We are aware of the many structural, systemic, and
institutional factors which act as a barrier in nominating women to various
positions in our context. First, the
invisibility of women with capabilities and qualifications for positions of
leadership. In our current context, the issue of capability and qualification
no longer holds as the country has invested a lot in education for women, in
leadership skills as well as in having role models like her Excellency which
inspire young women enter into leadership spaces. In a male dominated system,
the competition for such positions might result in exclusion of names of women
with all the potentials from reaching the nominating authority. The social
cultural norms and values do define different criteria for assessing women’s capacities.
This might again result in the exclusion of potential names.
In our opinion, this is an area we
wish to work closely with the nominating bodies including her Excellency in
profiling names of women who have all the necessary capabilities, passion, and
commitment to take up leadership positions.
Defined the Key Priority focus areas
for the Coming Five Years of her Reign.
Within the 100 days of leadership, her Excellency, Madam
President has also defined the key priority focus areas for the coming five
years. Although she carries over the
priority focus areas of the previous regime which she was a party to, she has
re-emphasized certain aspects which are critical to women’s economic rights.
Private Sector as an Engine of
Growth
With the help of an enabling
regulatory environment created by the Government, Her Excellency reaffirmed the
private sector’s role both as a driver and engine needed to propel economic
growth in the country. On the enabling environment, she specifically stated:
“In
addition, we will take concrete steps to improve the business and investment
climate in the country to attract the private sector to participate more
effectively in economic activities. The focus will be on restoring confidence
in investors and providing incentives for talented investors (Strategic
Investors), including enabling investment to be done quickly. There will be
specific qualifications and requirements that will be clearly set out in
identifying strategic projects that will be eligible for tax incentives or
other incentives. The issue of access to capital must also be taken seriously.
As you know, for the private sector to participate effectively, we must improve
the investment and business environment… Similarly, we will continue to work
closely with the Private Sector by recognizing that they are the key to
economic growth. To demonstrate this, among other things, the Government is
partnering with the Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) to establish a system to
receive and address the challenges of investors in the country through the
internet. The aim of the System is to simplify the handling of investor
challenges in a faster way and to bring efficiency in serving them.”
In this respect she has opened dialogue with the private
sector re-affirming her commitment to facilitate an enabling regulatory
environment for investment; she has instructed TRA to improve the modality of
tax collection and to avoid unnecessary confrontation with tax payers, and
further instructed for shorter and smoother facilitation of foreigner work
permits processing.
She also initiated a dialogue with East African partner
states particularly with Kenya due to strained relationship emerging from the
way both parties handled cross-border traders during the COVID-19 pandemic, as
well as nominated a seasoned female diplomat, Hon. Liberata Mulamula, as a
Minister of Foreign Affairs to steer up and strengthen international economic
diplomatic relations.
As we know, the private sector is
motivated by maximization of profit, and not the rights of citizens. In this
respect, we request her Excellency to task responsible government agencies to
ensure that the private sector respects existing laws of the land including
non-discriminatory practices in hiring, firing and promotion, as well as remunerations.
Priority Focus Areas
Her Excellency further re-assured the nation of her
commitment to continue with the previous regime’s priority sectors in both
productive and social service sectors, which includes: manufacturing,
construction, mining, tourism, creative industries, energy as well as social
sector services including education, health, water, housing and social
protection.
Indeed, these priority sectors have a potential of
contributing to women’s economic opportunities through employment creation, in
promoting their participation in business and trade, in value addition in
agricultural production particularly in agribusiness. Alternatively, if not
regulated, the growth of the productive sectors can easily exclude a big
fraction of Tanzanians particularly women. Tanzania has a historical experience
to learn from. During the post-colonial period when the newly independent state
embarked on a modernization agenda we witnessed what the then President of this
Nation Mwl. Julius Nyerere said, “Development of Things and not of People”
GDP growth rate during this era was 6% but the per capita income remained very
low. Mechanization of farming left out the majority of small-scale farmers,
particularly women. The question is how are we drawing lessons from the past
experiences?
The main challenge ahead of us,
during this phase, is how to promote broad-based and inclusive growth that
leaves no one behind in a private sector driven economy?
Evaluation of the implementation of the FYDP II by ESRF
(2021) made the following observations which have gender equality implications.
“Growth
has not been sufficiently broad-based. Growth is concentrated in
telecommunications, financial services, retail trade, mining, tourism,
construction and manufacturing; while these are important, a sector like
agriculture and related activities are missing. The sectors with the highest
rates of growth are predominantly capital-intensive and concentrated in large
urban areas; rural areas where the majority of the poor population lives have
been left behind. Growth has largely
failed to affect the great challenges, generating more employment and
additional jobs in all parts of society and improving incomes for the vast
majority of the population. There is the opportunity to focus on promoting
broad based growth. One major cause for the lack of poverty reduction despite
economic growth is that Tanzania has not succeeded in raising productivity in
agriculture over the last decades. Tanzania remains predominantly agricultural,
with about 65 percent of the population living in rural areas. Majority of
Tanzania's poor live in rural households. Growth in the agricultural sector
remains low, at around 4 percent per year, and in the rural areas the growth in
productivity can barely keep up with population growth. The birth rates in
rural areas are high (6.1 births per woman compared to 3.7 in the urban areas)”
ESRF (2021) (URT).
Expressing similar
sentiments, Her Excellency
acknowledged this in her address to the Parliament when she said,
“Mr.
Speaker; as you know, more than 65% of Tanzanians are farmers, who are engaged
in CULTIVATION, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES. Therefore, it is a dream for us to
imagine that we will accelerate economic growth and tackle poverty without
focusing too much on those sectors. It is true that over the years, we have had
some success in the agricultural sector. For example, this sector currently
accounts for 100 percent of food in the country, 60 percent of industrial raw
materials, and 27 percent. 7 GDP and 25 percent foreign exchange. However,
despite these successes, the agricultural sector is still facing many
challenges, but the biggest is the low productivity…”
Women are disproportionately
affected by gender-related challenges in the agricultural sector which include
inadequate skills and knowledge; inequitable access to productive resources,
especially land; inappropriate technologies; and inappropriate socio-cultural
practices and beliefs (URT: 2016). Additionally, the size of land owned by
women is smaller than land owned by men. Time Poverty is yet another challenge
which women face in the agricultural sector. Women aged 18 – 49 years of age,
spend 277 minutes each day which is more than 4 hours of unpaid care work
compared to 76 minutes for men which is less than 1½ hours per day on similar
jobs. Men therefore spend just 5% of their total day on unpaid care work
compared to 14% of women.
For any growth to be inclusive and
pro-poor, it must involve substantial growth of agricultural productivity and
allow most of the rural population (particularly women) to benefit from such
growth through participation in improved technology, in value addition of their
products through engagement in agribusiness, in marketing their produce internally
and externally.
The measure she commits to undertake
in promoting agricultural growth is well articulated in her inaugural speech as
she said,
“We will
complete the construction of existing irrigation schemes and ensure they
operate efficiently. And here I want to point out that the Government will
start levying fees for farmers who use these schemes to cover management and
operational costs. Similarly, we will continue the construction of warehouses
and warehouses in various parts of the country to eliminate the problem of
post-harvest losses. With regard to pastoralism, as I have already said, we aim
to abandon nomadic pastoralism. In pursuit of this goal, we will focus on
promoting modern animal husbandry”.
In our opinion, modernization of the
agricultural sector is unavoidable, if the sector is to keep pace with
industrialization of the economy. Our main concern
however is, how do we support the small farmers, particularly women, the
nomadic pastoralist, the fishermen/women to be part of this modernization
agenda? History has taught us that if this is to be done blindly, the small-scale
farmer, the pastoralists, and the fisherpersons will be excluded from the
growth process.
Much as we wish to promote and attract foreign investors, we
equally need to protect our citizens from being driven out of their business,
out of their land, and out of their sustainable livelihoods.
We might also need to draw lessons from the past, as we
learn from other countries like Botswana and Ghana. In Botswana for example, no
foreign company can operate without partnering with local companies. This
country has made huge investments in women’s education, hence the multiplier
effect of economic growth on women as they participate in skilled jobs. In
Ethiopia, construction companies are tasked to partner with local companies.
The country has also opened doors to their diaspora who invest in Real Estate
which create jobs to nationals. Similarly, Ghana as it seeks to promote
external investors, has given priority to the diaspora who will have to partner
with locals.
Prioritizing Human Development through investing in Social
Sector Services
Her Excellency highlighted notable progress in all social
sectors for the past five years. In Health she committed to:
“In the five years to 2025, we will
strengthen access to health care by continuing to build infrastructure,
increase staff, medical equipment, medicines and reagents. In addition, efforts
to reduce maternal and child mortality will be continued. When I was Vice President,
I launched the 'Increase and Keep Them Safe' Campaign to emphasize the
responsibility of all stakeholders in reducing maternal and child mortality.”
In
our opinion, most health-related problems, particularly maternal and child
mortality go beyond medical courses. Some of these causes include: Violence
against Women. Official data reveal that 8% of pregnant women have experienced
physical violence by intimate partners during pregnancy. Teen pregnancy is yet
another course of maternal and infant mortality. Lack of child care support
services is yet another cause of infant mortality. In other words, while
medical related focus is essential in addressing both maternal and child
mortality, the non-medical aspects are equally important. Hence a
multi-sectoral approach is needed which addresses the general inequalities in
our social economic and political context.
Social Protection
When addressing the
Women of Tanzania, Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan admitted that
more than 70% of women in the labour force are in the informal sector. This
implies the majority of women do not benefit from the formal pension schemes.
Given the existing wage gap which exists in formal employment, in favor of male
employees, it also means more women are more likely to end up with pension
schemes which do not sustain livelihood after retirement. Thirdly, for formal
employees, the monthly payments are never subjected to changes to correspond
with wage increases in the formal sector or even to respond to inflation in the
economy. And yet pension funds have been growing as a result of seed monies
from all pensioners.
The
current initiative of instituting universal social protection schemes ought to
go hand in hand with initiatives of reforming the law to enable all pensioners
to sustain a decent life after their long-term service to the nation.
In the education sector, Her Excellency Madam President
Samia Suluhu Hasan admitted that the Fee Free Education Policy which will
continue to guide basic education during her era, has opened doors for both
girls and boys to enroll and that girls have outperformed boys in terms of
enrollment.
While admitting that gender parity index has been achieved
at all levels of education, we are still concerned that a significant number of
the school age population has been left out of school, both females and males
for a variety of reasons. The continued existence of out of school kids is a
threat to society’s social fabric and is an economic cost to the country. For
girls, they are trapped in early marriage and or teen pregnancy which shatter
their dreams for further education, as they get further trapped in
multidimensional poverty. For young boys they are trapped in drugs, and or in
petty crimes.
As the sector is embarking on a
process of curriculum review as per Her Excellency’s directive, aspects which
ought to be addressed include: focusing on pedagogical skills for teachers to
be able to handle emerging challenges which young adolescent face including
reproductive health, life skills to include managing peer pressure as well as
how they handle multiple messages from the media.
In conclusion, with support from
Women Fund Tanzania Trust, we, Women’s Rights Organizations, members of the
Coalition of Women Constitution Elections and Leadership, and the African Women
Leaders Network, are confident that Her Excellency, President Samia Suluhu
Hasan has demonstrated within these 100 days, amazing capability, determination
and passion to move the country toward middle income status, without leaving
anyone behind. Her success will very much depend upon collective and individual
accountability first by the leadership cadres she has entrusted responsibility
of assisting her, while the rest of us give her all the necessary support.