G-Mdadisi
Senior Member
- Feb 15, 2018
- 157
- 99
PRESS RELEASE 05th September, 2023.
In a joint press statement issued by Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA Zanzibar), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Zanzibar, Union for Journalists who write Development Stories Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA), and Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC) in collaboration with Zanzibar Media Committee (ZAMECO) urge political parties in the country to allow their privileged female members to use their basic right to express themselves within their portfolios as a chance to strengthen their performance and the wellbeing of the society.
In a recent appointment made by the President of Zanzibar and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, two female and five male members were appointed as members of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), a national body that oversees electoral affairs in Zanzibar.
Despite the fact that the press statement which was issued about the appointment did not mention their working identities, it was known that one female member is a member of one political party in the country.
This declaration has come after an unusual event of the female member of ZEC who refused to express her views after the swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the commission held recently at the State House in Zanzibar.
Despite the fact that she had initially accepted to talk to the press, it was alleged that the party top leadership had barred her to talk or express her views about her first time appointment as a member of the election management body.
It is a usual practice for journalists to conduct interviews after leaders are sworn in to express their feelings and a way of making commitments to the general public and the said appointee was expected to follow the suit.
Giving her opinion is a matter of basic right to humanity and not related to the party she comes from; so it was not appropriate and not acceptable to bar her from facing the press.
The result of the matter is that the information that came out about the Commission lacked the voices of women and thus perpetuated patriarchal ideology of male domination in the decision-making bodies and the media where today the world and the country are striving to raise the voice and representation of women.
In its recent meeting, the media organizations, among other things, discussed the incident and expressed their dismay at the act of depriving a woman and indeed a young woman of the opportunity to express herself in front of journalists.
It should be noted that the number of women in Tanzania, according to National Population and Housing Census of 2022, it is more than 50 percent; therefore, it is important that their contribution be seen and recognized as they are part of the power to achieve that political, economic and social development starting with their representation in planning that development.
The Constitution of Zanzibar of 1984, Article 18. (1) States that "... Without prejudice to the relevant laws of the land, every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to freedom of seek, receive and impart or disseminate information and ideas through expression any media regardless of national frontiers and also has the right of freedom from interference with his communications".
What does it mean? This means that anyone who tries to prevent another person from using his right prescribed by the Constitution of the country should know that what she/he is doing is violating his civil and other human rights.
For the future of the country and prosperity of all groups including women, who for many years have been left behind, it is very imperative to support the voices of women and other marginal groups, including being given the opportunity to express themselves and express their views on what they see as developmental issues within the country and beyond.
Issued in association with:
Tanzania Media Women’s Association Zanzibar (TAMWA ZANZIBAR);
Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Zanzibar;
Jumuiya ya Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA);
Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC); and
Zanzibar Media Committee (ZAMECO).
Zanzibar.
In a joint press statement issued by Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA Zanzibar), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Zanzibar, Union for Journalists who write Development Stories Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA), and Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC) in collaboration with Zanzibar Media Committee (ZAMECO) urge political parties in the country to allow their privileged female members to use their basic right to express themselves within their portfolios as a chance to strengthen their performance and the wellbeing of the society.
In a recent appointment made by the President of Zanzibar and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, two female and five male members were appointed as members of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), a national body that oversees electoral affairs in Zanzibar.
Despite the fact that the press statement which was issued about the appointment did not mention their working identities, it was known that one female member is a member of one political party in the country.
This declaration has come after an unusual event of the female member of ZEC who refused to express her views after the swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the commission held recently at the State House in Zanzibar.
Despite the fact that she had initially accepted to talk to the press, it was alleged that the party top leadership had barred her to talk or express her views about her first time appointment as a member of the election management body.
It is a usual practice for journalists to conduct interviews after leaders are sworn in to express their feelings and a way of making commitments to the general public and the said appointee was expected to follow the suit.
Giving her opinion is a matter of basic right to humanity and not related to the party she comes from; so it was not appropriate and not acceptable to bar her from facing the press.
The result of the matter is that the information that came out about the Commission lacked the voices of women and thus perpetuated patriarchal ideology of male domination in the decision-making bodies and the media where today the world and the country are striving to raise the voice and representation of women.
In its recent meeting, the media organizations, among other things, discussed the incident and expressed their dismay at the act of depriving a woman and indeed a young woman of the opportunity to express herself in front of journalists.
It should be noted that the number of women in Tanzania, according to National Population and Housing Census of 2022, it is more than 50 percent; therefore, it is important that their contribution be seen and recognized as they are part of the power to achieve that political, economic and social development starting with their representation in planning that development.
The Constitution of Zanzibar of 1984, Article 18. (1) States that "... Without prejudice to the relevant laws of the land, every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to freedom of seek, receive and impart or disseminate information and ideas through expression any media regardless of national frontiers and also has the right of freedom from interference with his communications".
What does it mean? This means that anyone who tries to prevent another person from using his right prescribed by the Constitution of the country should know that what she/he is doing is violating his civil and other human rights.
For the future of the country and prosperity of all groups including women, who for many years have been left behind, it is very imperative to support the voices of women and other marginal groups, including being given the opportunity to express themselves and express their views on what they see as developmental issues within the country and beyond.
Issued in association with:
Tanzania Media Women’s Association Zanzibar (TAMWA ZANZIBAR);
Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Zanzibar;
Jumuiya ya Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA);
Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC); and
Zanzibar Media Committee (ZAMECO).
Zanzibar.
