GENDER based violence incidents in six markets of Mwanza Region have decreased, thanks to the efforts by a non-governmental organisation - Equality for Growth for sensitizing women traders in the informal sector.
The chairpersons of the six markets of
Igogo, Mlango Mmoja, Mwaloni, Mwanza Central Market, Kirumba and Mkuyuni
in region confirmed the reports, saying the development has helped
women to operate on equal footing with men.
The Equality for Growth (EfG) teamed up
with journalists to visit markets in the City and Ilemela Municipal
council, establishing that awareness creation against gender based
violence against women yielded better results.
The Mwaloni Fish International Market
chairman Mr Fikiri Magafu said yesterday that women at the market are
now conducting their businesses without being abused by male traders.
“The women’s rights were not recognized
by male traders, and in most cases, some men traders refused to settle
their bills and women did not know whom to approach to present their
grievances,” said Mr Magafu.
He said currently the market leadership
has been strengthened as it works through five committees. The
committees are formed along the duties of defence and security,
sanitation and environment, finance, mediation and arbitration and
disaster.
Magafu said that by-laws formed have
made the business community in the area to respect one another and avoid
using abusive language. The acting Mlango Mmoja Market chairman in
Nyamagana District, Mr Khamis Maginga said that violence against women
in the marketplaces has decreased compared to the situation before.
Ms Ester Sambule, a tailor woman who
owns a sewing machine in Mlango Mmoja market, said that most female
traders in the country are disproportionately abused with no proper
mechanism to enable them report the cases.
Equality for Growth (EfG), under the
support of The Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), is committed to end
violence against women in market places through empowering female
traders.
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