Source: IPP Media
Renowned gender trainer and specialist Rose Mjema has cautioned that the new constitution would be rendered useless if it does not dwell seriously on matters concerning women's rights.

Mjema said women constitute a larger population and their contribution in the economic wellbeing of the country is enormous.

Mjema was coordinating a one-day dialogue in Dar es Salaam by women in Ilala who are members of the constitutional committees at various levels.

The dialogue was one part of series meetings conducted by Women Legal Rights centre (WLAC) under the auspices of Oxfam Tanzania.

The aim of the symposium is to empower to understand better their rights which are enshrined in the constitution and contribute more in improving it with a specific aim of realizing their rights.

More than 800 women who are in constitution councils have been empowered to contribute to the constitutional review initiative since the process by the WLAC started in early June.

She said the fact that women contribute 75 percent of the agricultural output and that 55 percent of the families in the country are women headed is proof that problems which they face should be dealt with so that they could continue with their roles smoothly.

She said it was important for the constitution to address problems concerning violence against women because such acts were hampering their progress and the country at large.

"A day is never known to pass in which an act of violence against women is not reported. Women are beaten, sexually harassed, raped, mutilated in the case of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)," she stressed, adding," how do you expect them to forge their way forward under such circumstances."

She said the constitution must categorically stipulate what it must to revamp women economically and socially.

"The constitution must not just make swiping statements on what should be done, but stay categorically that such and such action must be taken to improve the welfare of women," she said.

On labour, she said many women undergo sexual harassment before being engaged in work. They have to succumb to sexual manic employers before being employed," she said.

"This must be categorically stated in the constitution," adding that employers must not force women employees to wear short clothes just because they want to entice their customers and garner more money from their business.

She also castigated some of the media outlets for reporting negatively on women.
"We often see the media taking photographs of the so called prostitutes in some streets of Dar es Salaam but nothing is shown of those seeking the service (men), she queried.

She suggested that gender education must be introduced in schools from lower level to the universities.
Other areas which the new constitution must dwell upon are land ownership for women issues, economic empowerment.

While in Temeke District in Dar es Salaam, the women also suggested that the issue on sex corruption at work places must be clearly indicated in the constitution.
On the media advertisements, the Temeke women asked the constitution to forbid picture which degrade the honour of women by showing almost nude women as a way of attracting customers.

They also suggested that women and men must have equal number of representation and Special seats for women must be abolished.
Maternal health must also be taken seriously in the constitution and that a special law must be made to enforce maternal health rights and regulations.
They also suggested that school girls who fall pregnant must be allowed to continue schooling after they deliver. Other resolutions include:

.Health service providers like nurses and doctors must be taken to task when proved that they have caused death to their patients.
.Double citizenship must be allowed
.Allowances for members of Parliament must be scrapped. They should only remain with their salaries.
.Male teachers who make their children pregnant must be severely punished.
.Female presidential candidates must also be sought the same way as male counterparts.

 

Women members of the Ilala Constitution Councils in Dar es Salaam in dialogue to brainstorm issues concerning constitutional reform. Photo: Lucas Lukumbo

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