Struggle to groom next strong Tanzanite woman continues.

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Throughout history, in societies all over the universe, the strength of women has shaped and made societies a better place to live in. 

From caring for their families as mothers and wives to their husbands to home economics and in medicines, trade, farming to fighting in battlefields to protect their homelands and societies and to leading their kingdoms and nations as queens.  

Against all odds of complete disregard of their rights as not equal to men and as well as vessels for sex, burned alive accused of witchcraft and magic, and in some societies as more or less slaves of men, still women have endured and came up stronger and a powerful force in building their kingdoms and nations. 

And despite all these tribulations and unfavourable circumstances , women’s contributions and role in medicine, politics and political breakthroughs, trade, innovations,   industry development,  philosophy and religion, social justice, music, peace and security can not be comprehended and ignored.  

Had societies from the beginning of time given women equal opportunities without prejudices to contribute fully to societies in all spheres of life, imagine where the world would be now because women have, if not the best mental strength and emotional strength compared to men. 

Africa, just like any other part of the world, has produced and groomed strong, loving, firm, humble, hardworking, capable and smart women for a long time since the dawn of time . 

Women from across the African continent have been instrumental in building Africa.  

Over the millennia, African women have been renowned for their strong resilience, determination, passion, love and utmost loyalty to their families and the society at large. 

In any typical African society, women would take care of the house chores, feed their families and societies through subsistence farming, animal husbandry and milking, as well as healing their families using herbs, a knowledge passed down from one generation to another, they are renowned also of taking good care of their husbands and the clan in general so men can provide for their families and societies at peace.

During the struggle for independence in Africa, women from all corners of the continent participated fully to liberate Africa. 

Some received military training and were in the frontline in the armed struggles in Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Botswana and South Africa.  

There are a number of notable heroines from across Africa who are celebrated and remembered for their heroism and dedication for the independence of their beloved countries. 

The likes of Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Kitur Chennamma, Josina Machel, Bibi Titi Mohamed, Aruna Asaf Ali, Mekatilili Menza, Frene Ginwala, Muthuni Likimani, Ruth Mompati, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Albertina Sisulua.

These are all powerful heroines celebrated in Africa for their heroism and true dedication and service for their countries and Africa in general  during the struggles for independence. 

Even after the independence of their motherland, women continued to play a crucial role in building their countries.  They have been heavily integral in all spheres of life in Africa from home economics to farming and animal husbandry to a reliable labour force in manufacturing and processing industries,  politics, medicine, innovations, and leadership to public service and private sectors to environmental protection to public health, human rights and rule of law, music and as well as advocacy for the rights and empowerment of their fellowship women and especially girls. 

The likes of presidents Slyvie Kiningi, Ivy Matsepe,  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Rose Francine Rogombe, Joyce Banda, Agness Monique Bellepeau, Sahle-Work Zewde,Samia Suluhu, prominent powerful women including  Getrude Mongela, Anna Tibaikuja, Stergomena Tax, and Anne Makinda.

We also have Isabel dos Santos, Uche Eze, Linda Ikeji, Diana Mulili, Carol Abade, Iza Irame, Kate Fotso, Sara Arapta, Yvonne Ike, Njeri Rionge, Nasim Devji, Yvonne Chakachaka, Diane Karusisi and Martha Karua to mention a few. 

Tanzania like any other African country, have and is producing powerful heroines whose contributions in politics, medicine, human rights advocacy, finance, trade, business, entrepreneurship, public service and private sector, environmental protection, public health, social justice, media, women empowerment and the rights of girls, industrial revolution and commercial agriculture, real estate, tech industry, tourism and investment in truly remarkable.  

The likes of Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu, powerful chief executive officers including Naime Moshi, Devota Mdachi, Ruth Zaipuna, Sylvia Shelukindo, Margaret Ikongo, Juanita Mramba, Irene Mlaki, Rosalynn Mworia, Blandina Kilama, Zaina Ansell, and deputy governor Dr Natu Mwamba.

We have politicians, social justice and public health advocates like Stergomena Tax, Dorothy Gwajima, Dr Julieth Sebba, Jokate Mwegelo, Tulia Ackson, Rebecca Gyumi, Annanilea Nkya, Hellen Kijo Bisimba, Adeline Kimambo, Zakhia Meghji Liberata Mulamula, Ellen Senkoro, Victoria Kisyombe, and Esther Mwaikambo.

Others are Susan Mashibe, Doreen Noni, Ritha Tarimo, Carol Ndosi, Miranda Naiman, Nancy Sumari, Vanessa Mndee, Faraja Nyalandu, Zakia Mrisho, Fatma Karume, Jennifer Bash, Ritha Paulsen, and Betty Mkwasa who are all ought to be celebrated for their heroics in building a better Tanzania. 

As a country, are we creating a fertile ground to groom the next powerful Tanzanite women?

The country, despite all odds, has been able to groom and produce powerful women over the years as mentioned above. 

Unfortunately, in the past few years or so, the Tanzanian society and especially the new media, women who are unethical, lacking proper values, full of licentiousness, sexually immoral, the drunkard and smokers.

Drug addicts with mental illness who actually need mental health help are continuously getting the most attention and praise from the media and it’s really sad and mind-boggling . 

Some in the name of musicians, entrepreneurs, hustlers, modelling, music viviens, new social media content creators and media personalities are getting all the attention in these media which is succinctly preposterous. 

Society is celebrating them as the “heroines” of our day and setting the precedence and examples for the young girls to follow suite of these so-called “heroines” of our day. 

This is one of the dangers our generation is facing and it needs urgent attention to save our next generation of girls from becoming like these new “celebrities” of our day.

The government and other stakeholders are doing their best which is blissful and encouraging to see in grooming the next generation of girls like building science schools, and scholarships for girls in science.

There are yearly awards for influential women, women empowerment programmes by various non-profit organizations, promotion with merits in leadership positions in public and private sector as well as enacting laws.

They protect the rights of girls and women in general. 

Still more needs to be done and the media and especially the new media has to step up and truly set the agenda of promotion and celebrating women who are the real heroines in our country . 

They do intriguing and inspirational deeds in mining, music, tech industry, politics, finance, banking, entrepreneurship, media, human rights advocacy, trade, entertainment, tourism, leadership management , environmental protection, agriculture, medicine, social justice,  and law, sports.

Others are investments, real estate, manufacturing, transport and logistics, aviation, home economics and marketing.  

By celebrating and promoting these Tanzanite women, many young girls will be inspired to follow suite of these acuity, beautiful, strong, ethical, God fearing, firm, smart, educated and good citizens of our beloved country.

And by every modest estimate , for our future as a country and Africa in general to be brighter, women are intrinsically a force to reckon with and God we need them.

We need them as we strive towards realising true liberal democracy, equality, equal economic o and employment opportunities, robust trade, tourism, manufacturing, social justice, rule of law, tech industry, entrepreneurship, media and entertainment.

They automatically help us love our families and decent society which is harmonious, mentally fit, educated and ethical with values. 

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