Speech of the Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children Hon. Sophia Simba (MP) During the Launch of the Project funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) for Raising Awareness of Tanzanian Women in Understanding Good Governance Issues,Iringa, 8th June 2013.
- Leadership of the Children Care Development Organization,
- The representative of African Women’s Development Fund from Ghana
- Regional Commissioner of Iringa Region
- Chairperson of CMM Iringa branch
- Chairperson of UWT Iringa
- Secretary General of Parents in Iringa region
- Honorable Rita Kabati – Special Seat MP of Iringa
- Bishop Mdengella of ELCT – Iringa Diocese
- Sheikh of Iringa Region
- Your lordship Mayor of the Municipality of Iringa
- Honorable District Commissioner of Iringa
- Honorable Director of the Municipality
- Honorable Director of Iringa Rural District Council
- University lecturers of Iringa
- The Media Houses
- Distinguished invited guests; Ladies and Gentlemen
First of all I thank the Almighty God full of mercies for enabling us to meet here in this important ceremony.
I take this opportunity to thank the leadership of Children Care Development Organization (CCDO), the people of Iringa and the rest of other Tanzanians for inviting me to join you in the launching of the project that aims at building awareness of Tanzanian especially women on good governance issues. I commend you so much!
The government on its part recognizes the importance of NGOs in bringing development for our citizens. Therefore we join you a hand of support on this good cause and we will continue to cooperate with you.
In addition, in a very special way I would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the Development of Women in Africa (African Women's Development Fund) from Ghana for financing the project. We thank you very much.
Fellow Citizens,
I have been informed that this project aims to provide educational awareness on the issues of good governance to all councilors of Iringa Region, journalists, leaders of government sectors and civil society, leaders of local governments, leaders of religious denominations and various stakeholders in development issues. It is my belief all those who will benefit from this project will use best the knowledge that they will receive for the development of the society of Iringa and the nation at large.
Moreover, in the case of women, the education you will get should be the catalyst of motivating you to appear and contest in various leadership positions in politics, in the coming elections of the year 2014 to 2015.
Fellow Citizens,
The main indicator of good governance is peace and tranquility from the family to the national level. It is a fact that in Tanzania we have the right to be proud of the peace that we have because good governance is sustainable from the era of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Kambarage together with the President of The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the late Abed Amani Karume. This phenomenon manifests itself in various areas in the country due to effective leadership under CCM.
Fellow Citizens,
Peace is a sole virtue that isn't to be compared with anything, in any nation on earth. The nation without peace finds itself in instability which forces the country to enter into serious problems that are then not forgotten by the existing generations and generations to come.
Countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Congo are examples of countries that have found themselves in civil conflicts due to the lack of peace.
Tanzanians should note that any nation without good governance is similar to a vehicle without fuel which could stop at any time anywhere.
Citizens ought to not be driven by some people who want to eliminate the peace of our country because of their personal or political ideology to be seen that they are the best. The CCM government shall ensure that it strengthens and maintains good governance for our nation to not involve in civil unrests as it is in our neighboring countries.
We should understand that many of the conflicts that occur in the country, the cause are personal ideologies of people who want to disturb the peace of our country so that the Government of CCM seems to have not done anything for the development of its people.
The CCM government says that good governance shall not tolerate such people and will ensure that they are mentioned to the public regularly in order to mend their ways to maintain the peace that we continue having as a country since we got our independence.
Fellow Citizens,
As Tanzanians we must realize that our country is one among the countries that should be proud of the many resources that we have, including national parks, minerals etc. Why not be proud of these resources given to us by Almighty God, and instead we get into nonproductive conflicts in the country?
Women will agree with me that, when chaos breaks out, it is we, the elderly, the disabled and the children who are the greatest victims.
Leaders of the Citizens ought to understand that good governance is not inflammatory issued statements, but it is ensuring that you collaborate with Citizens in decision-making in order to remove unnecessary conflicts.
"I wish I emphasize that the responsibility of creating, maintaining Integrity, Peace, Accountability and Transparency in our country is not an issue concerning the government alone, but also the responsibility of the entire community."
My Fellow Women,
I have been informed that your motto is "WITHOUT EMPOWERMENT A WOMAN CAN MAKE IT". This public is an example sufficient to show that you have decided to cooperate and attain a better life in your families and national development in general. Well done.
The Community recognizes that the cornerstone of our family is a woman. A woman is the mother, the nurse, the one who does hard and difficult works in our households’ welfare.
We all know that the issue of a woman's assigned place in the family and society as a whole, still has been a major problem in many communities. Still women do not participate fully in development processes, their thoughts contributions are not valued, despite the fact that women are half of all the Tanzanian citizens and are the biggest producers in the country's economy.
So it is my hope that the knowledge of good governance will help to overcome the prevailing patriarchal system and understand that women and men are equal and have the right to participate fully in the development of the country.
Fellow Citizens,
In women's economic empowerment, the government under my ministry has established the Women Development Fund (WDF) in collaboration with various councils where loans are given to women in order to get capital for income generating activities.
In addition the Ministry has also established the Tanzania Women Bank (TWB). I call upon the citizens of Iringa region to join Tanzania Women's Bank branches when they are open for business here in the region.
Fellow Citizens,
I am very pleased to see many groups of entrepreneurs here in Iringa, which are given loans by Children Care Development Organization. I would like to remind you that the loans that you were given should be used for activities that were intended. In addition you must pay the loans on time. Remember the cure of a debt is to pay the debt.
Women along with our entrepreneurial activities I urge you to not stop taking good care of your families especially children. Look at their school progress; give them the best food for their health and growth.
Fellow Citizens,
Finally I call again reminding women to come and seek various opportunities being planned by the government. We must be part of economic, political and social reforms. Let us change. Opportunities will not come knocking at your door. Go out and follow it. Let us remove the silence.
Moreover I thank you again for inviting me to be the guest of honor at this ceremony. Having said that I declare that the project for raising awareness of Tanzanian women on issues of good governance has been officially launched.
God bless Tanzania
God bless Africa
Thank you for your attention