By Priscilla Mng’anya – SANF 04 no 08
In 1997 the SADC Heads of State and Government signed the Declaration on Gender and Development at a summit held in Malawi. The declaration mandated all member states to increase the number of women in all decision-making positions to at least 30 percent by 2005.
Despite the signing of the declaration, the number of women in decision-making positions at all levels in many countries remains below the 30 percent target. Yet women’s involvement in decision-making is one of the key concepts of democracy, good governance and promotion of human rights in any country.
According to a 2003 survey by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), women in Tanzania constitute 21.3 percent in parliament and 14.8 percent in cabinet. A recent report from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children reveals that women constitute 33.3 percent in local government councils.
The imbalanced representation of women in most decision-making bodies has led to women’s issues, experiences and priorities being bypassed in the national agendas.
Tanzania’s final hope to achieve the 30 percent target is the next election in 2005. The Republican President Benjamin Mkapa has maintained that his country will meet the 2005 target. He has expressed support for a constitutional reform that ensures that a 30 percent representation of women in politics and other decision-making bodies is attained.
While this promise is yet to be implemented, women all over the country, as in other SADC countries, are excited and eagerly waiting for leaders in the region to make the 30 percent representation in politics and decision-making a reality. In Tanzania, this calls for amending the constitution to allow for more women to enter the political arena.
Amending a national constitution requires a leadership that is determined to provide resources and opportunities without any form of discrimination. If implemented, the Tanzanian experience would serve as an example to others.
The ruling party has already taken steps towards lifting the status of women by adopting a quota system that has helped to bridge the gender inequality in parliament. However, this needs to be constitutionalised if it is to apply to all political parties.
An institutional mechanism also exists through the Ministry of Community Development Gender and Children, whose immediate role is to produce policies and guidelines and coordinate all activities related to gender. In 2002, a National Gender Development Policy was developed to ensure gender mainstreaming by all stakeholders.
Other activities such as Gender Budgeting Initiatives (GBI) that used to be driven by non-governmental organizations especially the Tanzania Gender Network Programme (TGNP) have now found room in government ministries.
The Tanzanian Parliament has enacted many progressive laws which include, the Sexual Offences Special Provision of 1998 which has been a victory for women’s sexual rights. It stipulates stiffer penalties of not less than 30 years imprisonment to sexual offenders. Review of other oppressive laws such as the Inheritance and Marriage Act are underway to offer more protection for women.
In 2001, President Mkapa declared HIV and AIDS a “national disaster” that calls for collective efforts and constructive initiatives at national and global level. As his response towards the HIV and AIDS disaster, Mkapa recommended the introduction of related policies to cover various levels.
To this end, a National HIV and AIDS policy is now in place. The policy protects the right of people living with the disease and also the rights of the orphans. In addition, a Tanzania Commission for AIDS and HIV (TACAIDS), responsible for implementing and monitoring the national policy, has been established to provide strategic leadership for a national multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS.
These initiatives show Tanzania’s commitment to address gender imbalances across the nation. It however, remains to be seen if the country will indeed amend the current constitution to ensure that the 30 percent target of representation by women in political and decision-making positions is met by 2005, as mandated by the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development. (SARDC)
