Women in governance at Central and Local Government Institutions: Tanzania’s experience

Abstract

This article provides a descriptive analysis of the state of women’s participation in decision making while occupying political and managerial positions following government of other series of conventions, reports and protocols such as: the Dakar Platform (1994), the African Plan of Action, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003), the African Union’s Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004), Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (1998), UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), Southern African Development Community (2005), African Women’s Report (2009) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (2009). The participation of women has consistently been at the two women’s participation has been made at international level and governments have endeavoured to implement them. It is the author’s intention, through a literature review, to illustrate notable evidence taped from developed and developing countries on women’s engagement on issues spelt out and show deliberate efforts taken by world governments to eradicate the problem. Tanzania is the focal point in this analysis. Despite the premeditated exertion undertaken by responsible institutions, the under-representation of women persists to a large degree. This dilemma needs to be re-addressed by increasing the number of women leaders because women have social skills such as networking, motivation that are crucial in contemporary organizations and development may not be realized if women lag behind.