Source: IPPMedia
No body can deny that rural women, in not only Tanzania but also elsewhere in Africa, are faced with many challenges, including overwork-particularly with regard to household chores and farming.

In household circles, women are the people who look for food for families-even where the husbands maybe present. Theses are the same people who take toddlers to hospital when they fall sick-ordinarily not the men.

Many traditional practices in Africa, dictate that women have no other roles to play in community apart from being wed and bearing children. They are not allowed in development activities that would otherwise uplift their economic and social status including education.

When girls reach maturity age, for example, parents expect nothing less than dowry when they marry them off.

Statistics availed by the United Nations, show that over 70 percent of women in Tanzania are engaged in farm work, a core they undertake to ensure food security in households.

"Women have enormous workload in community; for they are the ones looking for food for families, cook it and provide to household members", said Ummy Mwalimu, Deputy
Minister in Vice President's Office (Environment) at the opening of a seminar recently.

In a paper presentation titled 'Women's place in development of women and girls", Ummy said in Tanzania and Africa as a whole, traditions had until today, been rendering women dependent on men at the rate of 100 percent.

"Until this day, many communities have refused to change their mindset, clinging to the myth that men are superior in most respects, to women", she told an 100 plus seminar attended by ward councilors from Tanga region's eight districts.

The objective of the three day seminar was to stimulate participation of women councilors in the implementation of development projects-such as maternal health, water supply, girls education and entrepreneurship.

The forum was also aimed at capacity building for women and girls - to enable them secure affordable loans from financial institutions, training in entrepreneurship skills and scouting for markets for their products.

Organised by the Tanga Women Development Initiative [TAWODE], the seminar was financed by Hans Seidel Foundation and facilitated by Centre for Good Governance and Economic Development.

It also focused on creating awareness on gender balance and good governanc where they came from. "They say that men are first grade and women second. This is only history .We were not born with it',lectured Ummy,adding that both men and women deserved equal treatment in society.

'You should stand firm and say ,no, I am not prepared be made second grade. This is not supposed to be my status,' she emphasized, stressing that in terms of opportunities, men and women enjoyed the same rights.

In terms of their expected roles in district councils, the deputy minister urged the participants to be in the forefront in ensuring that budget allocated for women and girls projects were implemented according to directives issued in that respect.

"Directives issued by the Prime Minister's office clearly stipulate that 5% of total internal budget should be allocated to women and girls projects", she asserted,reminding the councilors to see that the order was implemented to the letter. When the Deputy Minister asked ward councilors to explain their individual budget allocations during the 2012/13 fiscal year, Lushoto Councilor, Monica Hizza said a total of 20m/- had been disbursed for various projects undertaken by women and youth.

'This is the amount which has so far been disbursed for the projects, gradually, further allocation will be made depending on merits of proposals availed to the council", narrated Monica, who is also Deputy Chairman of Lushoto District Council. The Deputy Minister urged women at various levels of leadership to maintain confidence in whatever they did.

"You should have confidence in yourselves and be united. Any woman should be self motivated in order to reach to her desired direction".

'Let us all, get organized. Let us aspire for leadership positions in the forthcoming elections (local government) in our wards.

Ummy told the councilors that it was possible for the nation to be led by a woman president; if only there is commitment from women."Yes, it can be done. We have capable and serious people to take up the challenge," she said, amid ululation from the audience.

"Next time, we shall consider formulating a by-law whereby, if a Mayor is a man, his deputy should be a woman – provided one is capable".

Some participants decried the tendency of men beating up their wives for trivial reasons and called on the tendency to be dealt with once and for all. Saida GadaffI, called on the government to allow girls getting pregnant while schooling to be given another chance to be continue with their education. However, the Deputy Minister revealed that a policy was in the pipeline for formulation of such law,adding that indeed,it was school girls from poor families who were caught up in such web of circumstances.

Many traditional practices in Africa, dictate that women have no other roles to play in community apart from being wed and bearing children.