Source: Tanzania Daily News
AS the country marks the International Women's Day, the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children has called for gender parity in decision making at all levels.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the Ministry's Deputy Minister, Ms Pindi Chana, said it is not yet time to remove special seats slots for women in Parliament.
Ms Chana, who was speaking on behalf of Minister Sophia Simba, said removing special seats slots in parliament is going against the 50 per cent gender parity requirement.
Ms Chana who was speaking about the celebrations for marking the International Women's Day on the 8th this month, stressed that women are not fighting to have special seats permanently, but they want a proper method that will enable the 50 per cent gender parity to be reached in parliament.
Speaking on gender violence, Ms Chana called upon the public to increase efforts to reveal the culprits so that legal actions can be taken against them to end the vice.
She said gender-based violence is still rampant, stressing the need for concerted efforts from both public and the government.
Government on its own will never be able to end gender -based violence in the society. We all need to participate in this to end it," she explained.
She added that the government has been implementing different programmes to end gender violence, including putting in place policies that address the issues.
"The government has also been working with other stakeholders to fight GBV, through promotional campaigns to educate the society on the need to report such acts," she added.
Ms Chana said the government has formed a national committee on violence against women and children among other things and provide advice on best ways to end gender-based violence.
She said the aim of marking the International Women's Day is to gauge different international agreements ratified by the country on development of gender, and especially women.
The Deputy Minister added that this years' celebrations will be marked at regional level and every region has prepared its own plans to celebrate the International Women's Day whose theme is "Inspiring Change for Gender Equality."
Meanwhile, LUDOVICK KAZOKA reports that the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Ms Hawa Ghasia, is expected to grace the International Women's Day celebration to be held at Mwembeyanga Grounds in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Briefing reporters in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, the Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Meck Sadiki, said the day is aimed at reminding members of the public on addressing different challenges facing women.
"In society, women have great contribution but they have been denied opportunities in decision making bodies," noted the RC.
This year's International Women's Day aims at mobilizing society, government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on the importance of incorporating men and women in social, economic, cultural and political spheres.
Mr Sadiki urged commuter buses to direct their vehicles towards Mwembeyanga grounds to help city residents to attend the celebrations.
He said different city-based groups engaged in Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SME) would exhibit their products at the grounds and that the Dar es Salaam Community Bank (DCB) would provide the city residents with knowledge on SME.
"TACAIDS (Tanzania Commission for AIDS) will also provide residents who will turn out for the event, with education on the HIV/AIDS," said Mr Sadiki.
Each year, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.
