Gender activists draw up voters' manifesto

Tanzanian activist groups dealing with gender, democracy and good governance have drawn up a voters' manifesto, which focuses on accountability of those seeking political office. "It provides a guideline on what voters seek from aspirants in terms of their individual capability and how they are going to meet the expectations of the electorate," Mary Rusimbi, the executive director of the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme, told IRIN in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's leading commercial city. Some 52 organisations that make up the membership the Feminist Activism Coalition (FemAct), a networking social movement that advocates for the protection of human rights and women's empowerment, have ratified the manifesto. Rusimbi said the manifesto is an outcome of analysis in Tanzanian legal frameworks on a variety of issues such as inheritance and ownership of property as well as policies on matters of national priority like poverty alleviation and HIV/AIDS. "Every Tanzanian has the right to participate in the governance of the country either by being voted for or voting," Rusimbi said. She said the activists wanted the government to guarantee equal opportunity to all citizens. The manifesto notes that good governance, based on principles of democracy and equal opportunity, is the key to the war against poverty. "We refuse to be manipulated, bought and to sacrifice our lives because of chaos and conflicts fuelled by power-hungry politicians lacking issues to present to us 'voters' when campaigning for elections. "As men and women advocating for equality, peace and national stability, we call upon voters in all political parties as well as the government to understand that there will never be real democracy without equal participation of women," the manifesto reads. Rusimbi said the manifesto was a reflection of studies from the two previous multiparty elections in the country. "It is an outcome of studies by campaigners for human rights with a gender perspective," she added. Formed in 1994 with about 40 member organisations, FemAct has carried out advocacy activities aimed at mobilising and pressurising for transformation of the country's legal system and policies that sideline women and other marginalized groups. Justifying the voters' manifesto, Rusimbi said voters themselves inspired that drafting of the document. She said the manifesto also underscored the fact that the concept of sustainable development must involve men and women. Tanzanians are scheduled to go to the polls on 30 October, to elect a president, members of parliament and councillors. This will be the third time the east African nation will have held general elections since it opted for multiparty politics in 1992.