Dar es Salaam: Calls for women's emancipation echoed across the Tanzania yesterday as the country joined the rest of the world in marking International Women's Day.  Messages delivered during various occasions to mark the day had a similar tone - women were capable, and should not relent in their fight for equality.  In the political arena, for instance, women were urged to come out and contest elective posts after the government showed its willingness to help them compete fairly. 

In his address to the nation from Tabora, where the day was marked at the national level, President Jakaya Kikwete said the newly enacted Election Financing Act would ensure that women compete with men for elective posts on an equal footing.  He said the law created a level playing field as it would ensure that no one used his financial clout to elbow other contestants out of the race for elective posts.

He advised political parties to nominate many women candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections, and urged women to vote in large numbers.  "But you must be careful to elect women who are capable...don't elect a person simply because she is a woman," the Head of State warned.

He said women had proved that they were capable of performing, adding that women in his Cabinet had not disappointed him.  "I don't regret appoint women to Cabinet posts they are currently holding ... they are performing impressively, and I promise to continue appointing women to top positions on merit."

Mr Kikwete said he would appoint new judges next week, and promised that several among them would be women.

In another development, President Kikwete said he would continue to support the Tanzania Women's Bank (TWB) in its mission to economically empower women.  He said the government would give the bank some Sh2 billion every year, and was contemplating raising the amount to Sh5 billion to boost the bank's activities.  Mr Kikwete reminded women that TWB was their bank, and they should strengthen it by buying shares and opening accounts.

Meanwhile, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki Moon said in a statement it was encouraging that a growing number of countries had policies and legislation that supported gender equality and reproductive health.  He noted that most girls now receive an education, particularly at primary level.

In another development, Dodoma deputy mayor Japhari Mwanyemba challenged women to participate in the forthcoming elections and stop relying on special or nominated seats ahead of the civic and parliamentary seats.  Elsewhere, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner William Lukuvi urged women to confidently face men in the General Election.  He said women could win high-ranking posts and positions if they were competent.

In Mwanza, Cabinet minister Celina Kombani said number of women in decision-making positions had greatly increased since the Beijing Conference 15 years ago.  She said the government had strived to implement its promise made immediately after the conference.

Ms Kombani said Tanzania had ratified four of 12 resolutions made during the Beijing Conference, including having 50/50 representation.  "In Mwanza Region alone, three out of the eight district commissioners are women," said Ms Kombani while officiating at the commemoration of International Women's Day observed at regional level in Mwanza, adding that 109 out of over 300 parliamentarians were female.

"The situation is also reflected on various government institutions, including the cabinet, which comprises seven female cabinet members out of 20 ministers," she said.

The achievement was even more reflected on the judiciary sector, which comprised 29 female justices out of 69 justices, equivalent to over 30 per cent target set by the government.

Ms Kombani urged men to refrain from locking up their wives in their houses, saying women were capable of helping men take care of their families.  The minister further observed that women were facing a number of political challenges that called for them to aspire for parliamentary seats instead of waiting for special seats.

"I believe women can stand on her own and vie for parliamentary seats in the constituencies," she said, urging women to pick forms for the forthcoming General Election and to dare facing their male counterparts.