Source: Tanzania Daily News
ACTIVISTS in the sister islands of Pemba and Zanzibar are doubtful whether the 601-member Constituent Assembly tasked to discuss and approve the proposed new Union Constitution would have the full participation of women.
Ms Harusi Mpatani, Zanzibar Legal Service Centre (ZLSC) director, says she has perused the draft and found out that it doesn't guarantee equal representation.
"Women should keep on fighting for their rights. It's a fact that men dominate in the current Zanzibar House of Representative and the Union Parliament," she says. She adds: "
It's likely that men will be more than women among the 201 nominees to the Constituent Assembly.
But there's hope that the margin will not be big because President Jakaya Kikwete and his advisers have gender sensitivity," Mpatani says.
She says that some sections in the draft constitution are friendly, but sections such as the one dealing with the formation of the Human Rights Commission requires equal gender representation because it is a concern for both men and women.
The activist believes that the presence of women and their full participation is of paramount importance although some people consider the clamour over women representation as an over-reaction by various bodies, women organizations and human rights activists.
"There have been low participation in election, and still women are undermined and discouraged. But we can still mount pressure to draft a constitution that treats both men and women equally," Harusi, a lawyer, says.
Another activist, Ms Fatma Amour, says: "Women are still discriminated against in decision-making and property ownership. These are not light issues if you believe in equality. We want change, so that women feel comfortable," she says.
Amour says that the constitution- making process should be an opportunity for women and men to show gender balance. She says the upcoming constitution should end all forms of women harassment - battery, rape and denial of property ownership rights.
Amour argues that property rights are an important issue in the new constitution. Ms Shifaa Ibuni, coordinator of a project to sensitize women on the importance of taking part in the constitutionmaking process, says that fair representation in all state mechanisms is what women are looking for.
The project is supported by Ford Foundation. Ibuni, an activist from Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA), urges women to continue fighting for their rights to get a women-friendly constitution.
She says the age-old patriarchal attitude has made life harder for women, and that the constitution should guarantee equal rights for them. "We ask members of the Constituent Assembly to be bold in discussing the draft so that women have the rights," Ibuni explains.
"I've always had a dream for my country that includes equality and justice for all and for women to finally be given respect. Unless women are treated as real partners in deciding the future of our country, they'll suffer the consequences."
The new constitution should recommend enhancing gender equality in the country by including provisions for gender balance in distribution of wealth and leadership opportunities.
The constitution sensitizing programme was organized by TAMWA in both Unguja and Pemba islands to discuss how to encourage women participate in national democratic processes.
The country's Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) released the second draft constitution to the public on December 30, last year, proposing, among other things, a three-tiered government with separate administrations for the Mainland and Zanzibar.