Govt: several strategies in place to empower women

Nelly Mtema

TANZANIA: MINISTER for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, said the government has put in place a number of

strategies that aim to empower women economically as well as improving the society.

Dr Gwajima stated this on Thursday ahead of the International Women’s Day today.

Tanzania has made tremendous success as far as economic equality, empowering women and enriching societies are concerned. Dr Gwajima made the remarks when officiating at women conference co jointly organised by Tengeru Institute of Community Development (TICD) and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT).

She said it is now time for the public to recognise the government efforts in ensuring gender parity is implemented as the country celebrates the women’s day.

“We must value women contribution to the national development as well as have in place empowerment strategies and instill confidence in their endeavours” said Minister Gwajima.

However, she said men should be involved in the development strategies pertaining to women as they are key partners in making the programmes work. She was impressed by the conference under the theme “Economic Equality: Empowering Women, Enriching Societies’’ as it meant to recognise the government contribution to facilitate women and economy for national development.

The Minister said all programmes, including the ruling CCM election manifesto, various guidelines, policy, legal frameworks as well as budget plans are meant to empower women economically.

“If you empower women, you have empowered the whole society” said Dr Gwajima, adding that the government is exploring opportunities availed in gender avenues for development. She commended the National Women Research and Documentation Centre (NWRDC) under the TICD for funding the conference and for implementing the economic equality through technology.

The Minister was optimistic that the papers on Gender equality and climate change, Equal access to financial resources and Women and Leadership will open new opportunities on gender and women researches.

She said President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government is at the forefront in addressing women issues and challenges as well as bridging the opportunity gaps for gender parity.

She called upon women and men to team up to increase public awareness on gender issues so as to bring positive impacts in the society, thus foster development growth.

On his part TICD Rector, Dr Bakari George, said they now engage the technological aspects to address the challenges of equality and economies.