TOGETHER WE CAN: Dar es Salaam hosts first SADC Gender Protocol Summit  Maternal Health project by CSSC became an overall winner Country and Regional wise By Gladness Hemedi Munuo Gender Links (GL) in Collaboration with Gender and Media Southern Africa Tanzania Network (GEMSAT) on March 27, 2013 hosted the first ever SADC Gender Protocol Summit at Dar es Salaam’s Blue Pearl Hotel in Tanzania. This Summit sought to comment and encourage local level initatives towards achieving the 28 targets of the SADC Gender and Development Protocol, which Tanzania has recentlry ratified. In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Ummy Mwalimu said that the Tanzania government aligns itself with SADC Gender and Development Protocol to achieve gender equality. Mwalimu assured stakeholders and participants that government will work closely with the media and civil society to promote gender equality in the country because ‘togethe we can’. The summit accompanied together with the provision of different Awards to various entrants to recognise the efforts made by organisations, media houses and journalists to push the gender agenda and create awareness about women’s issues and gender equality. With light blue sweater she is speaking with the community is Ms. Rache Mkunduai, a Public Relation Officer with CSSC trying to educated people on what is ‘Kangaroo Style’ and its advantages. As per this information, GEMSAT member of the Board congatulate Ms. Rachel Mkundai, Public Relations Officer of Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) was commended and awarded in country and SADC Regional wise for the organisations contribution towards the achievement of gender equality through reproductive and maternal health “I am happy to have worked with GEMSAT and other organisations” she said so. A mother delivered premature in a Kangaroo Style of carering at one of the Health Center after CSSC introduced the practice.(All photos by CSSC) Rachel presented on a success story on how they educat3 majority rural area on how to care on premature babies by using ‘Kangaroo style’ and its success in most parties they intriduced in Tanzania. Therefore, CSSC has done such a recommendable job on that. All in all, the summit intends to mobilise media houses, journalists and civil society to unite and fight for gender equality. GL with GEMSAT is currently working with ten media houses in Tanzania, who have committed to mainstreaming gender in institutional practices and content. The summit awards rewarded journalists and media organisations who are at the forefront of gender reporting.

MIGOGORO NA VURUGU HUIBUA UNYANYASAJI KIJINSIA KWA WANAWAKE • Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa no.1325 lilete mabadiliko Tanzania • Mabaraza ya Usalama kwa Vijiji, Kata, Wilaya na Mkoa washirikishe Wanawake Na Gladness Hemedi Munuo Imefika wakati wa nchi yetu Tanzania kupitia bunge letu tukufu kuridhia Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa ya 1325 (UN Resolution 1325) ili kukomesha vitendo vya kikatili na unyanyasaji kijinsia wanavyotendewa wananchi wasiokuwa na hatia na hasa wanawake katika maeneo yenye migogoro. Hii ni kwa kuwa, nchi zote zilizo katika Umoja wa Afrika Mashariki tayari zilikwisha ridhia Azimio hili la Umoja wa Mataifa na utekelezaji wake ili kukidhi haja za jamii zao. Iweje Tanzania mpaka leo tunasusua wakati tayari migogoro, vita na mashambulizi ya aina mbalimbali kwa jamii hivi sasa yameshamiri. Uhalisia kamili umethibitisha kuwa, mahali popote panapotokea mgogoro, baina ya jamii kwa kutokuelewana kiasi cha kuzuka mapigano na uharibifu wa mali, vitendo vya unyanyasaji kijinsia vinavyojitokeza kama vile ubakaji kwa wanawake na watoto, utekaji nyara wa watoto wa kiume na wasichana ili waweze kuwatumikia watekaji kama watumwa au wake zao, pamoja na jamii hasa wanawake kuachwa wakiwa walemavu au kuharibiwa baadhi ya viungo vyao. Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa la 1325, linapinga kuwepo kwa vitendo vya ukatili wa kijinsia kwa wanawake ikiwa ni mkakati wa kuhakikisha kuwa wanawake wanahusishwa katika ngazi zote za maamuzi kuhusiana na kupatikana kwa amani nchini na duniani. Vyombo vya habari vimekuwa vikijitahadi kuhabarisha umma kuhusu matukio dhalimu kama haya, lakini kwa uhakika wanao/walioathirika na majanga kama haya ni wengi, na kwa kuwa vyombo vya habari ni vichache vinavyoweza kufika vijijini na hasa maeneo yenye migogoro ili kuibua na kuhabarisha umma kikamilifu vitendo vya unyanyasaji kijinsia kwa jamii na hasa wanawake si rahisi habari nyingi kufika katika vyombo vya usalama kwa haraka. Upo msemo unaosema ‘wapiganapo tembo nyasi ndizo zinazoumia’, pamoja na ‘Vita vya Panzi ni furaha kwa Kunguru’. Misemo hii inaashiria kuwa, wakati wowote tusikiapo ya kuwa kuna mgogoro wa aina fulani kiasi kupelekea jamii kukimbia makazi yao, wazee na wagonjwa huachwa bila ya msaada wowote aidha, wapo wakina mama wanaojifungulia maporini maeneo ambayo hayana usalama kiafya ikiwa ni pamoja na wanawake kufanyiwa vitendo vya kikatili kama vile kubakwa, kulawitiwa nk. Hivyo basi, muarobaini wa athari hizi, ni kuwepo kwa maridhiano ya Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa no.1325, ili utekelezaji wake uanze mara moja, huenda dawa ya kutokomeza migogoro hii ikiwa ni pamoja na kutibu itakuwa imekamilika kwa njia hii. Asasi ya Wanawake katika mapambano ya amani Tanzania (TAWOPE), ni moja wapo ya taasisi yenye malengo ya kuhakikisha kuwa, jamii na wanawake waliopo katika maeneo yenye migogoro wanapatiwa elimu mbalimbali kama vile kujilinda na jinsi ya kujikinga miili yao kufuatia kuzuka kwa migogoro na vurugu za mara kwa mara, ufahamu wa sheria ya ardhi vijijini ya mwaka 1999 na elimu nyingine mbalimbali. Mbali na TAWOPE, aidha zipo asasi ambazo zimejikita katika kutoa misaada mbalimbali kwa waathirika wa migogoro ya aina yeyote ile, ikiwa ni pamoja na ushauri nasaha kwa walioathirika kwa njia moja au nyingine, hizi ni asasi kama Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Tanzania (TAMWA), Chama cha Wanawake Wanasheria Tanzania (TAWLA), Kituo cha Msaada wa Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC), na wengineo wengi. Aidha, zipo asasi zinazotakiwa kuwa mstari wa mbele katika kushughulikia waathirika wa migogoro hiyo kama vile waliobakwa na kupata majeraha, ujauzito na hata maradhi mbalimbali ikiwemo UKIMWI, hawa huhitajika kupata msaada wa kiafya kutoka asasi husika kama vile Chama cha Madaktari wa Kike Tanzania (MEWATA), pamoja na asasi zenye kutoa huduma kama hizo. Aidha, katika utafiti uliofanywa na TAWOPE (2010), ilionyesha kuwa katika nchi ya Tanzania maeneo ambayo kwa hakika migogoro isiyokwisha hujitokeza mara kwa mara, ni maeneo wanayoishi wafugaji na wakulima, na kikubwa hasa ni kwa wafugaji kuwa na idadi kubwa ya mifugo ambapo mara zote huingiza mifugo kwenye mashamba ya wakulima na kusababisha kuzua kutokuelewana kati yao na wakulima. Ingawaje maamuzi ya UN ya 1325 yanalenga kulinda na kutetea maslahi ya wanawake hasa katika maeneo ambayo migogoro au vurugu zenye matumizi ya silaha zimejitokeza upande mmoja au pande zote. Siyo siri kuwa, hata Tanzania, wananchi walio wengi wameshuhudia baadhi ya wafugaji wakitumia silaha ikiwa ni pamoja na bunduki zenye risasi za moto, ambazo madhara yake ni makubwa kwa jamii yote na hasa kwa wanawake ambao wamekuwa ndiyo kichaka cha uonevu. Je, mpaka leo tujiulize, Tanzania tunasubiri nini mpaka Azimio hili litupite? Vurugu au migogoro ya hivi karibuni jamii imeweza kushuhudia wakati wa Operesheni mbili za kitaifa (Tokomeza na Kimbunga), kumekuwa na vitendo vya ubakaji na kila aina ya ukatili wa kijinsia kwa wanawake na wanaume waliokumbwa katika hizo operesheni ambazo ziligeuka na kuwa ni vurugu kwa jamii husika. Mfano halisi wa wanawake walioathirika ni pale ambapo baadhi yao wamelazimika kuolewa kinguvu na wafugaji au askari wanaosimamia operesheni mbalimbali kama tulivyoshuhudia nchini Tanzania hivi karibuni. Taarifa kama hizi zinasimuliwa na waathirika wenyewe katika maeneo ya Mahenge –Itete, Morogoro- Mvomero, Loliondo na Manyara. Aidha, Mara-Tarime, Pwani –Rufiji pamoja na maeneo mengine ambayo wafugaji wameingia kwa wingi. Angalizo pia tunatoa kwa serikali yetu, katika kipindi hiki ambacho wananchi wanajiandaa na uchaguzi wa taifa, zipo dalili ya kujitoza kwa vurugu za kisiasa ambazo kwa Tanzania tumeshashuhudia baadhi ya vifo mfano mauaji ya mwandisha wa habari huko Iringa, aidha vurugu za silaha za moto (bomu) kwa raia wasiokuwa na hatia katika nyumba za ibada Zanzibar na Arusha, na hata katika mikutano ya hadhara kwa vyama vya siasa.. Kipindi hiki Tanzania inapoandaa Katiba Mpya, ndiyo wakati muafaka wa kuhakikisha pia Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa no.1325 linazingatiwa kwa kuridhia na kuhalalisha utekelezaji wake ili migogoro iliyopo na inayoendelea kujitokeza iweze kudhibitiwa. Hivyo basi, mapambano dhidi ya vitendo vya unyanyasaji kijinsia yanahitaji ushirikiano kutoka serikalini, asasi zote zenye kuunga mkono haki za binadamu pamoja na vyombo vya habari katika kuhabarisha jamii. • Mwandishi Gladness Munuo ni Mratibu wa Asasi ya Jinsia na Vyombo vya Habari, Tawi la Tanzania. 0754/0786/0754 285701

Tanzania: Planning is the recipe for success says my mentor

Written by Gladness Hemedi Munuo | 29 August 12 Dar-es-Salaam, 29 August: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" sums up my phenomenal woman, Dominica Haule. I believe that this principle has contributed the success that she enjoys today. It has assisted her to be successful as a career woman, a wife, as well as a mother to her three children. Dominica will never change her plans for anything or anyone unless if it is means someone is dying. Even if you have a close relationship with her, she will not bend her back if the request is late. I have asked her to preside over events a few hours before they start. She will respond, "Gladness, I'm sorry that your request for me to be part of the meeting you are hosting has come in late. Short notice does not work with me, I plan and I have to attend to another equally important programme. I am very sorry." I used to get disappointed and thought of her as an arrogant successful woman, but now I've learnt the trick. I have to send my request three or four days prior to the event so that she can prepare a speech or her contribution depending on the role she will have at the meeting. I admire Dominica, a veteran communications practitioner. She insists on planning all the time. The Information Services of Tanzania (MAELEZO) employed her for more than 25 years before she resigned. She is decisive and she resigned out of choice. Her friends tried to convince her to stay on but she refused, noting that she had given enough of her career to the organisation. She wanted to start her own thing and her next move showed us all that she had thought through her decision. Together with other women, they went on to form an organisation called Grass Root for Female Communicators Association (GRAFCA). I met this phenomenal woman over ten years ago during a gender and media activism workshop held in Dar-es-Salaam. This is when I learnt that she is a gender and media activist and I always consult her when organising workshops targeted at the media. Two years ago, she shared with me that, "if I want my dreams to come true, I should wake up and work." She added that it is also important to put in place a plan in advance and stick to it as much as possible. It has been difficult for me to plan and stick to my plans, but slowly, I'm grasping the principle and enforcing it in my career. She has taught me that an activist should be prepared for anything and to stand by what they believe in. I have become a respected activist in the work that I do with media houses to develop gender policies. I believe that the media should also serve women and deliberate policies are important to ensure that the media includes women's voices. In addition, Dominica is my mentor and when I need guidance from her, I have to place an appointment first and brief her on what I require help on. She will engage with the information and when I go to see her, she will give me excellent advice that assists me to make decisions. She gives her all and is never jealous of some of the things that I will be seeking her advice on. Since she became my mentor, I have witnessed positive growth in my personal life as well as in my career. The valuable lessons and life skills that I have gained from knowing Dominica have to be acknowledged this Women's Month. She is the phenomenal woman in my life and I would like her to know that. I would want to believe that the principle of planning has contributed to the success of many other Tanzanian women including the Speaker for Tanzania National Parliament, Anna Makinda; Minister for Land and Housing, Anna Tibaijuka; former Deputy Secretary General of the UN and now UN Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS in Africa Asha-Rose Migiro; and former President of the Pan African Parliament Gertrude Mongella. I also believe that if I stick to what Dominica has taught me, I will also be successful in my work and leave a legacy in the Tanzania media fraternity for championing the adoption and implementation of gender policies in media houses. I envy Dominica Haule. The busy lives we lead today can make us change our plans every minute. They require one to be smart, to manage their time and not agree to work on everything that comes their way. As a married woman, I also have to juggle other tasks. Multitasking and planning become very important. I have learnt this from Dominica and I thank her for teaching me this special skill. Gladness Hemedi Munuo is a media activist based in Tanzania. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service, special series on celebrating phenomenal women, bringing you fresh views on everyday news. http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article/tanzania-planning-is-the-recipe-for-success-says-my-mentor-2012-08-29

GEMSA Tanzania engaged in Sexual Reproductive and Health Awareness

GEMSA Tanzania (GEMSAT) is an organization with individual and institutional membership. Most of the GEMSAT activities focused on awareness and advocacy issues concerning gender like education, health, economic, social etc. In every theme we are looking in gender extra eyes.

GEMSAT as a chapter organization of individuals and institutions who work to promote gender equality in and through the media in a SADC countries, its mission is to promote the mainstreaming of gender in Southern Africa media as integral to the advocacy for freedom of expression, a free and independent media and for the development of democratic societies in the region.

Another major reason for GEMSAT to decide to work on that Project is whereby, after the adoption of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development adopted 17 August, 2008, GEMSAT make a thorough overview and found that there are gaps which need special attention in order to fulfill mission and vision of the Gender Protocol. These gaps one of them is the problem of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for majority women in Southern Africa, particularly in Tanzania.

GEMSAT as a CSO’s works with journalists and other Gender activists found that there are is a need to implement this project to be as a way of reducing health problems to women and sensitization to the government through its Ministry for Health and Social Affairs.

Background information regarding to this project is the agreement made by our state leaders at Maputo, Mozambique on 2006 and this agreement called The Maputo Plan of Action (MPoA).
MPoA is a framework for implementing the African Union’s Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. MPoA was approved by Ministries of Health of African Union member states in Maputo, Mozambique, on September 2006. This plan states that African leaders have a civic responsibility to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of their people. The Maputo Plan of Action (MPoA) was intended to be a demonstration of their commitment however three years after being signed it is not clear how the provisions of the plan have been implemented at regional and national level.
Girls and women continue to lack control over matters related to their sexuality and sexual health and rights. Sexual and reproductive ill-health accounts for almost one third of the global burden of disease among women of reproductive age. Sexual and reproductive health information, education and services should be widely available and affordable for all. Yet too often they remain inaccessible.
As a result, the risk of maternal mortality in Africa remains the highest of all continents. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest infant mortality rate and, at the same time, accounts for half of the developing world’s maternal deaths (1 in every 100 births). It also has the lowest rate of contraceptive use in the world (19%). 4.2 million unsafe abortions occur in Africa every year, causing 30% of all maternal deaths in the continent, and taking 90 women’s lives every day. Finally, the HIV epidemic has expanded at a pace that has outstripped efforts to bring services to scale. In 2007, the number of new HIV infections was 2.5 times higher than the increase in the number of people receiving antiretroviral.
Despite the emphasis on integrating HIV with sexual and reproductive health issues, current HIV policies in many countries do not explicitly state the importance of reproductive rights and neither do they provide guidance on how to mainstream sexual and reproductive rights into existing reproductive and HIV programs. The linkages between HIV policies and programs and SRHR policies and services need to be reaffirmed. There is an urgent need for political and civil society leaders to be informed about the provisions of the Maputo Plan of Action, and develop strategies to accelerate its implementation.
On this project, GEMSAT has the following objectives: To raise awareness on the MPoA and related policy instruments such as the SADC GAD Protocol amongst health reporters; to create a pool of journalists that will track the implementation of the MPoA in Tanzania and to increase media coverage on SRHR and how government, private sector and civil society are implementing the MPoA in Tanzania.
In order to make sure that advocating is taking its chance, GEMSAT earmarked to create empowerment to journalists and awareness to Tanzania communities on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Journalists will be able to write in detail all issues on health related to reproductive health, on which we believe after this exercise GEMSAT will develop a group of journalists (Pool) who can be well cooked and being able to write issues on MPoA and the targeted readers will be well informed with SRHR information.

Violence against women and girls children continues to be a serious issue in Tanzania with its devastating consequences that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS, to unplanned pregnancies for school children and sexually transmitted infections. These also extend up to the increase of maternal mortality and death of children under five years.

Therefore, during this period, a close monitoring on the published gender sensitive articles concerning MPoA will be done by making a collection of published clippings from the Newspapers. As we expected this project to be extended for nine months, within this period GEMSAT will make a one pull out of detailed researched feature (Special Issue) articles in a newsletter.

It is our believe that through this project, GEMSAT together with other stakeholders will examine more closely how well Tanzania as a country is doing in addressing issues of SRHR in a comprehensive manner as outlined in the Maputo Plan of Action to which Tanzania is a signatory.

Through media advocacy, it is our great hope that the Government of Tanzania may act-upon by increasing health equipments for labour and maternity wards/hospitals, trained staff including clinical officers and qualified nurses will be paid better salaries to increase their motivation.

WANAHARAKATI WA JINSIA NA KAULI YA PELEKA RASILIMALI KWA WANAWAKE WALIOKO PEMBEZONI

Wanawake wanaharakati wa Jinsia kutoka asasi mbalimbali nchini wakiwa kwenye moja ya vikao vya matayarisho ya Tamasha la Jinsia Tanzania hivi karibuni, kikao hicho kilifanyika katika ofisi za Asasi ya Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP, Septemba,2009)

Mary Rusimbi, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa kwanza wa TGNP akisimamia shughuli za matayarisho ya Tamasha la Jinsia katika moja wapo ya vikao vyake hivi karibuni.

Gladness Hemedi Munuo
GEMSAT

- Watanzania na wanaharakati wanaadhimisha Tamasha la 9 la Jinsia;
- Kauli mbiu imetolewa wakati muafaka;
Nayakumbuka maneno ya mwanaharakati mkongwe wa masuala ya jinsia nchini Tanzania Charles Kayoka Mwandishi mwandamizi ambaye alishiriki katika kuazimisha miaka 20 ya Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Tanzania (TAMWA), na nukuu “ Wanaharakati kwa ujumla pamoja na wana TAMWA wasing’ang’anie kutekeleza yale mambo muhimu machache yaliyo kwenye mpango kazi wao pekee, au mipango wanayopangiwa na wafadhili mbalimbali au iliyokwisha andaliwa na serikali tayari, bali wawe na mbinu zao za kubuni ikiwa ni pamoja na kufanya tafiti kwa umakini kwa kuwashirikisha wanaharakati na wataalamu waliobobea katika fani mbalimbali.”

Nimeyakumbuka maneno haya wakati huu wa maadhimisho ya tisa (9) ya Tamasha la Jinsia Tanzania ambalo limeandalliwa na wanaharakati wa masuala ya jinsia nchini (FEMACT) wakishirikiana na asasi ya masuala ya jinsia Tanzania –TGNP.
Asasi ya TGNP au kama inavyojulikana na wengi “Tanzania Gender Networking Programme” ilianza rasmi kama asasi kamili toka mwaka 1993. Baadaye kwa usimamizi wake waliweza kuunda umoja wa asasi zinazojishughulisha na masuala ya jinsia (FEMACT) ili kuweka nguvu ya ziada kuhakikisha kuwa kile kinachofanyiwa kazi kiweze kupata nguvu katika utekelezaji wake ikiwa ni kwa ngazi ya wilaya, mkoa au Taifa.
Harakati za TGNP pamoja na FEMACT zinanikumbusha haswa maneno ya mwanaharakati wa masuala ya jinsia Charles Kayoka ambapo ukiyachambua kwa umakini unaweza kupata jibu la uhakika kuwa si rahisi kwa asasi moja pekee ikafanikiwa kwa kiasi cha kuridhisha pasipo kushirikiana na asasi nyinginezo zenye mrengo sawa, serikali alikadhalika wataalamu au wasomi wa masuala mbalimbali.
Hii ndiyo iliyopelekea TGNP ambayo ilianza rasmi mwaka 1993 kuona umuhimu wa kushirikisha wanaharakati wa asasi nyinginezo na kuunda umoja ujulikanao kama FEMACT. Hivyo basi, kwenye mchangamano huo unao wataalamu wa fani mbalimbali lakini wote wakiwa malengo yanayolingana.
Hivyo basi, kutokana na ushirikiano huo, umewezesha kuwepo kwa Tamasha la Jinsia nchini Tanzania ambapo linaungwa mkono na watanzania wote kwa ujumla, taifa la Tanzania na kimataifa. Maadhimisho hayo ambayo hufanyika kila baada ya mwaka mmoja ili kutoa muda wa kutosha katika kufuatilia yale yaliyoazimiwa kwa pamoja na wana FEMACT ikiwa ni pamoja na wananchi wengine wote walioweza kushiriki wakati wa Tamasha.
Katika kuhakikisha kuwa Tamasha la Jinsia nchini Tanzania linawashirkisha watanzania wote kwa makundi mbalimbali ikiwa ni pamoja watoto, walemavu wa aina mbalimbali, wazee nk. Hii ni kuhakikisha kuwa mshikamano katika maamuzi au kampeni mbalimbali unajumuisha madaraja ya watanzania wa aina zote.
Mkurugenzi wa Asasi ya Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP) Bibi Ussu Malya alisema kuwa, “Madhumuni makubwa ya Tamasha la jinsia nchini mwetu kwa kila muhula ni kuwakusanyisha wanawake na wapenda harakati za wanawake pamoja na wananchi wote wenye kujali usawa wa jinsia na hasa masuala ya wanawake katika ngazi mbalimbali za maisha ikiwa ni vijijini, wilayani pamoja na pande zote za dunia, kwa malengo ya uanaharakati katika kutoa habari na kubadilishana mawazo katika masuala muhimu”.
Kutokana na mchakato huo ambao Bibi Ussu ameufafanua kwa undani, ndiyo nguzo muhimu inayosimamiwa katika kufanikisha kuwa Tamasha la Jinsia nchini Tanzania linafanikiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa.
Kubadilishana kwa mawazo miongoni mwa washiriki mbalimbali wa kutoka ndani na nje ya nchi hukamilisha safu ya kubadilishana mawazo na uzoefu wa kazi mbalimbali za kiuhanaharakati nchini.
Wataalamu, wasomi na wazoefu wa mazingira ya jamii na dunia kwa ujumla aidha wamekuwa chachu kubwa katika kuhakikisha kuwa Tamasha la Jinsia Tanzania linafanikiwa si tu kwa kushirikisha watu mbalimbali na kufanikiwa bali pia kuhakikisha kuwa mada muhimu zitakazo zungumzwa na washiriki zinafuatiliwa kwa ukaribu ili serikali iweze kutilia mkazo utekelezaji wake.
Kauli mbiu ya mwaka huu ni “ Tupeleke Rasilimali kwa Wanawake walioko Pembezoni”, ujumbe huu kwa nyakati kama hizi na mambo yanavyotendeka ni muhimu sana katika kupigiwa kampeni ya kutosha. Umefika wakati serikali ikaliangalia suala hili kwa jicho la ziada.
Kutokana na idadi ya watu waliopo Tanzania, tunaelezwa kuwa asilimia kubwa ya wakazi wako vijijini, kwa maana hiyo wanawake walio wengi wako huko vijijini. Hiyo haina mjadala, kwa maana hiyo moja kwa moja hatuna budi kuwapongeza wana FEMACT kwa kuchagua kauli mbiu muhimu kama hii ambayo kwa zama hizi suala hili ni muhimu sana.
Imeshasemwa mara nyingi sana kuwa mijini ndiko kwenye kila kitu muhimu kwa binadamu kama vile mashule, hospitali au vituo vya afya, magulio ya kuuzia mazao n.k. Kutokana na hilo imekuwa ni nadra kuona maendeleo muhimu kama hayo yakiongezeka kwa kasi katika maeneo ya vijijini au pembezoni.

Wana FEMACT wameona awamu hii, suala hili lipigiwe debe la kutosha ili serikali na asasi nyinginezo ziweze kuchukua hatua na utekelezaji ufanyike haraka iwezekanavyo ili wananchi wa Tanzania waweze kurudisha imani yao kwa serikali yao.
Katika nchi yetu ya Tanzania hatuna budi kuwapongeza asasi binafsi, watu binafsi mmojammoja pamoja na mashirika ya dini kwa jinsi walivyoweza kujidhatiti kuanzisha shule za ufundi, vyuo vya maendeleo na hata vituo vya afya ambavyo ndivyo vinawakomboa wananchi wengi waliopo pembezoni.
Ni jambo la fedheha sana mpaka sasa ni muda wa miaka 48 toka nchi yetu ijipatie uhuru wake kwa njia ya amani lakini mpaka leo hii bado jamii iliyoko pembezoni na hasa wanawake hawana mahitaji muhimu hasa huduma za afya na kusababisha kuwepo kwa ongezeko la vifo vya uzazi kwa wanawake.
Umefika wakati kwa huduma muhimu ziegemezwe pembezoni walipo wananchi wengi na wapiga kura wakutegemewa, huduma kama mabenki mfano Benki mpya ya Wanawake ilyozinduliwa tarehe 4 Septemba, 2009 na Rais wa Jamhuri Mheshimiwa Jakaya Kikwete, Benki kama hii ambayo imeanzishwa wakati muafaka ingekuwa vema ikafungua matawi kwa wingi huko wilayani ili kuweza kuwakwamua wananchi wengi na hasa wanawake waliopo huko ambao ndiyo tegemeo la nguvu kazi kwa taifa hili.

Hongereni sana wana FEMACT kwa kuja na dira nzuri yenye mwelekeo wa maendeleo kwa taifa letu. Idumu TGNP! Idumu FEMACT! Wadumu wanawake wanaharakati wa Tanzania!
*GEMSAT ni Asasi ya Vyombo vya Habari na Jinsia Kusini mwa Afrika Tawi la Tanzania.
http://www.gladnesshemedi.blogspot.com/
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A.Wanawake wanaharakati wa Jinsia kutoka asasi mbalimbali nchini wakiwa kwenye moja ya vikao vya matayarisho ya Tamasha la Jinsia Tanzania hivi karibuni, kikao hicho kilifanyika katika ofisi za Asasi ya Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP)

B.Mary Rusimbi, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa kwanza wa TGNP akisimamia shughuli za matayarisho ya Tamasha la Jinsia katika moja wapo ya vikao vyake hivi karibuni.

Mazingira yakituzwa huvutia watalii

Gladness Munuo

WATAFITI wa mazingira ulimwenguni, wamekuwa wakisisitiza umuhimu wa utunzaji wa mazingira pamoja na kutaka umma uelewe au ujiepushe na uharibifu wa mazingira hasa katika maeneo ya bahari na pwani.

Lengo likiwa ni kuboresha biashara ya utalii na kuwavutia wageni wa nje na ndani kwa kufuata mfumo wa utunzaji wa mazingira (Ecotourism) katika maeneo ya pwani ya Bahari ya Hindi Ukanda wa Zanzibar.

Kutokana na ushindani wa kibiashara na hasa kwa upande wa vivutio mbalimbali vya asili kwa watalii ambao kwa asilimia kubwa wamekuwa wakiingizia nchi fedha nyingi pamoja na mataifa mengine kiwango kikubwa cha pesa za kigeni.

Hilo linachangiwa na uwepo wa hoteli nzuri za kitalii zilizojengwa pwani ya bahari zikiwemo hifadhi mbalimbali za wanyama na kumbukumbu za kihistoria ambazo watalii hujifunza.
Hata hivyo jitihada za makusudi za kuvutia zaidi watalii wanaoingia hapa nchini licha ya kuwepo kwa mtikisiko wa uchumi wa dunia, zinahitajika kuyahifadhi na kuyatunza zaidi maeneo hayo.
Maeneo ambayo kwa lugha ya kitaalamu hujulikana kama ‘Ecotourism,’ kwa kuzingatia mfumo halisi wa utunzaji wa mazingira asilia.

Sasa imekuwa desturi kwa kila sekta za utalii na mazingira kufanya kazi kwa pamoja ili kuhakikisha kuwa hifadhi zilizopo zinalindwa bila kuharibiwa na kujiingiza zaidi kwenye soko la kiushindani kutokana na ubora wake ili kuongeza kipato mara dufu.
Wahifadhi wa mazingira kwa maeneo ya wanyama wamekuwa wakiweka ulinzi na kutoa maelekezo kwa waishio jirani au wapita njia ili kuhakikisha maeneo hayo hayaguswi wala kuchafuliwa au kuingiliwa kwa namna yoyote ile.

Aidha, ndivyo ilivyo kwa hifadhi za bahari pamoja na pwani zake, wamiliki wa hoteli wamekuwa mstari wa mbele kuhakikisha maeneo hayo ambayo ni vivutio vikubwa kwa watalii mbalimbali yanaendelea kuwa vivutio kwa uasilia.

Awali ya yote neno uhifadhi wa mazingira masikioni mwa wengi lilikuwa lina maana ya maeneo yenye wanyama pori na misitu ya asili pekee.

Ni vema ikatambulika kuwa hata maeneo ya bahari na ukanda wa pwani yanahitaji uhifadhi mkubwa kwa ajili ya vivutio kwa watalii na wenyeji wanayoyazunguka.

Ni wazi kuwa wengi waliowahi kupata nafasi ya kufika maeneo ya pwani watakubaliana nami kwamba kutokana na wingi wa watu, maeneo mengi ya pwani ya bahari yamekuwa na matumizi mabaya ya mazingira yanayosababisha kuwepo na uchafuzi mkubwa wa mazingira.
Maeneo mengine kama vile pwani ya bahari yameonekana ni sehemu ya kutupiwa kila aina ya takataka bila kujali umuhimu wa maeneo hayo.

Leo hii juhudi kubwa zinafanywa na watu mbalimbali kama vile wadau wa bahari na pwani katika kuhakikisha hatua kali zinachukuliwa kwa kuweka ulinzi na nidhamu ambayo kila mkazi wa eneo hilo awe mtalii au mfanyabiashara ahakikishe suala la usafi wa mazingira pamoja na utunzaji ni mambo muhimu kwa maendeleo.

Naomba ieleweke kuwa uhifadhi wa bahari ni mpana, kwa maana ya kuwa upo uhifadhi wa mazingira ndani ya bahari na pwani.
Hatua moja wapo za kuhakikisha kuwa maeneo hayo yanaheshimiwa ni pamoja na kuwekwa kwa sheria mbalimbali za uhifadhi ikiwa ni pamoja na uvuvi wa kiwango maalumu kilichokubalika kitaifa na kimataifa katika kuhakikisha kuwa ongezeko la viumbe hai vilivyopo majini na nchi kavu vinalindwa.

Uhifadhi wa mazingira katika maeneo ya pwani pamoja na bahari kwa nchi za Afrika ni zana ngeni sana na imekuja kwa kasi baada ya ongezeko kubwa la watalii ambao bila ya kufanya hivyo basi pwani zetu zingekuwa zimeshavamiwa vya kutosha.

Kila mvamizi angefanya vile atakavyo na hivyo kuondoa ladha nzima ya eneo husika ikiwa ni pamoja na kutokuwepo kwa usafi au utunzaji wa mazingira halisi ambao ni kivutio kikubwa cha watalii.

Wingi wa watalii pamoja na wafanyabiashara mbalimbali umekithiri kwa kiasi kikubwa katika pwani zetu na hasa za Ukanda wa Bahari ya Hindi, hivyo kupelekea kuwepo kwa uharibifu wa maeneo na hali hiyo ikiendelea ni wazi kwa miaka ijayo hakutakuwa na vivutio halisi kwa watalii katika maeneo ya pwani.

Wamiliki wa hoteli katika pwani ya Bahari ya Hindi wameweka mkakati kuwa moja wapo ya hatua muhimu katika kuhakikisha mazingira yanahifadhiwa ni kuanzishwa kwa utalii unaoendana na hali halisi ya kiuchumi na si utalii wa watu wengi bila ya kipimo ambao husababisha kuharibika kidogokidogo kwa mazingira husika.

Hii inadhihirisha kuwa elimu itolewayo na vyanzo husika, ikiwepo Taasisi ya Wanasayansi wa Bahari ukanda wa Bahari ya Hindi (Western Indian Ocean Marine Scientists Association -WIOMSA), wameweza kuwaelimisha kwa kiasi wadau wa Bahari ya Hindi na pwani kuzingatia kiwango kilichowekwa cha idadi ya watalii kwa uhifadhi salama wa mazingira utaowawezesha kuendelea kuwa na kivutio kwa watalii kwa miaka mingi zaidi.

Mfano halisi wa mazingira ya pwani yanayohifadhiwa kwa kuangalia hali hii ni pamoja na kisiwa kidogo cha Chumbe ambacho ni kati ya visiwa vidogo vilivyopo Zanzibar.
Kisiwani hiki, inasemekana, kina zaidi ya aina 300 ya viumbe hai mbalimbali viishiyo ndani ya maji na nchi kavu.

Ndani ya Kisiwa cha Chumbe yapo makazi maalumu yaliyojengwa kwa ajili ya watalii na watu mbalimbali ambao wangependa kwenda kushuhudia jinsi gani uhifadhi wa mazingira ulivyoimarishwa kiasi kwamba viumbe hai vilivyopo vinaendelea kuwepo bila kuathiri kwa hali halisi ilivyo.

Makazi hayo yaliyojengwa kiufundi kwa kutumia malighafi iliyopo hapo hapo kisiwani ni pamoja na ujenzi wa majumba makubwa 7 (Bungalows) ambayo ndani yake kuna vyumba vya kulala vilivyojengwa kwa kutumia malighafi ya asili.

Meneja Mradi wa kisiwa hicho, Frida Lanshammar, anasema utunzaji wa mazingira na matumizi ya vitu vinavyoendana kimazingira ni wa hali ya juu.
Anaeleza kuwa msisitizo unafanywa kwa kila mkazi au mgeni wa eneo hilo kutunza mazingira ikiwa ni pamoja na kutumia karatasi za chooni (Toilet paper) badala ya maji hasa wanapoenda kujisaidia; huku utayarishaji wa maji ya kunywa yasiyo ya chupa za plastiki yakisisitizwa.
Lanshammar ambaye ni raia wa Uingereza anasema makazi ya Kisiwa cha Chumbe kwa Pwani ya Afrika Mashariki ni ya kwanza na ya aina yake.

Kuna uhifadhi mzuri wa mazingira ulioonyeshwa katika makazi hayo na kujipatia sifa kubwa katika soko la utalii na kushinda kwa kiasi kikubwa kutokana na kuonyesha uhalisia wa hali ya juu katika mazingira yake.

Lanshammar alitoa maelezo hayo katika mafunzo ya waandishi wa habari wa Kenya, Tanzania na Seychelles waliopatiwa mafunzo ya uandishi wa mazingira katika maeneo ya Pwani ya Bara Hindi kama yalivyoandaliwa na WIOMSA wakishirikiana na Fojo –Taasisi ya mafunzo ya habari iliyopo nchini Sweden.

Makazi yaliyopo kisiwani Chumbe mbali na kuwa ni kivutio kikubwa cha watalii, vilevile imekuwa ni sehemu ya mafunzo kwa wanasayansi na wanafunzi mbalimbali.
“Watalii huweza kukaa kwa muda wa siku tano mpaka saba na gharama kwa watalii ni dola za kimarekani 100 kwa siku,” anasema Lanshammar.

Aidha, anasema kwa upande wa wanafunzi mara nyingi bei hupungua wakati mwingine huwa ni bure kabisa ili kuwawezesha kujionea na kuutangaza kwa nguvu zote utalii huo nje na ndani.
Kutokana na maelezo ya Lanshammar, ni wazi kuwa kulingana na hali halisi ya uchafuzi wa hali ya hewa kuna hatari maeneo hayo kukosa wageni na ndio maana ulinzi wa kutosha unakuwepo kwa kushirikiana na wananchi hali iliyoleta mafanikio makubwa.

Kwa upande wake, mwandishi wa habari za mazingira kutoka Sweden, Eva- Pia, anasema wanahabari wanapojifunza na kuandika zaidi habari za mazingira wataisaidia jamii kuwa mstari wa mbele kuyatunza na kujua umuhimu wake.

Eva-Pia anasema kuwa kurejesha uasili wa mazingira katika maeneo ya pwani za bahari kutasaidia viumbe hai waliopo kama samaki wasiathiriwe na wavuvi haramu na sehemu za mazalia mapya kuogezeka ili kuweza kukuza uvuvi wa kitalii katika maeneo hayo.