By Alfred Zacharia
Zanzibar
– In a pivotal move aimed at enhancing gender equity and accountability in
politics, Zanzibar is revising its political party laws and ethical guidelines.
The reforms are designed to empower women, mitigate harassment, and ensure
their full participation in the country's political and democratic processes.
Mohammed
Ali Ahmed, Deputy Registrar of Political Parties, highlighted these changes
during a meeting assessing barriers faced by women in political candidacy and
participation. The session took place at the ZURA Maisara hall in Unguja,
bringing together government officials, political party representatives, civil
society organizations, activists, and religious leaders.
Key
legislative updates include revisions to the Political Parties Act (2019), the Political
Parties Code of Conduct (CAP.258 R.E.2019), and related regulations. These
changes are expected to eliminate gender-based harassment and foster a more
inclusive political environment.
Senior
Legal Officer Abdulrazak Ali emphasized that gender equality is non-negotiable.
He stressed the importance of political parties adopting robust guidelines to
uphold ethical standards and combat harassment against women.
He also underlined the need for support for
female politicians, candidates, and voters who face threats, violence, and
discrimination due to their gender.
Dr.
Mzuri Issa, Director of Tamwa Zanzibar, noted that women have reported
significant instances of mistreatment while participating in political
activities, highlighting a lack of effective reporting systems and access to
justice.
Dr. Mzuri Issa, Director of Tamwa Zanzibar
In
response, the Deputy Minister of Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and
Children, Ms. Anna Athanas Paul, revealed that the Ministry has developed
special strategies, including training programs, resources, and advisory
initiatives to support female candidates.
The
assessment of barriers to women's political participation was conducted by Tamwa
Zanzibar in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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| Deputy Minister of Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Ms. Anna Athanas Paul |