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 Demo's work in Tanzania reached an important stage when the women’s cross-party platform held its first official brainstorming session in Dar es Salaam on October 7.-8. All five parliamentary parties in Tanzania support the initiative, and each Women’s Wing has appointed three institutional representatives to the platform.
The purpose of the platform is to strengthen the voice of women in Tanzanian politics through women politicians’ enhanced cross-party co-operation at different levels of governance. The platform, initially called for by the women themselves at Demo’s earlier seminars in Tanzania, is to provide a forum for the formation of joint priorities, strategies and tactics.
Demo will facilitate the platform meetings as well as provide capacity building as required. A special emphasis is at district level as well as among marginalised groups. The first meeting was facilitated by Dr Fenella Mukangara, Director of the University of Dar es Salaam Gender Centre and Mary Rusimbi, Chairperson of the Gender Training Institute.
Hon Margaret Sitta, Minister of Community Development, Women and Children opened the meeting and welcomed the initiative. The Minister considered women’s co-operation across party lines to be vital for development. The platform aims to act as a channel for women’s voices from the grassroots to local and national decision making. Among key national actors are Elietta Switi, MP CCM and Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, Susan Lyimo, MP Chadema, and Dr Zaibnab Gamo, MP CCM.
The first official meeting of the platform raised excitement among the women
 Buppe Mazengo, Regional Chairperson of UWT (CCM), Iringa: "I am delighted to see the platform become reality after a long process. I am thankful to Demo for persevering with its support for the platform. This is the first step towards success for the Tanzanian women."
Regia Mtema, Senior Youth Officer, Chadema: "I am so happy to have the platform, and really look forward to the co-operation and training. We women need to understand more about gender issues and speak in one voice to make progress. For this, the platform is very useful."
 Ashura Hassan Amanzi, Secretary General, CUF Women’s Wing: "I am very proud that the platform has now become reality. Now women can raise their issues together regardless of their political ideologies. This will make us stronger."
For more information, please contact Demo’s Local Programme Co-ordinator Ave Maria Semakafu
email: avemaria.semakafu(at)demofinland.org
DEMO Finland
Töölöntorinkatu 2 B, 00260 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 9 231 50580 | Fax +358 9 231 50520 |
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