Breaking the silence: Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania’s rural areas

Breaking the silence: Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania’s rural areas

Dar es Salaam. In the quiet corners of Tanzania’s rural areas, where the sunsets paint the sky in hues of orange and red, lies a silent struggle many women face but rarely report.

Instead, they get used to it, accepting it as part of life. Behind closed doors, away from prying eyes, they endure a reality that no one should ever have to experience.

This is the harsh truth of gender-based violence, a pervasive issue that plagues our society, lurking in the shadows of normalcy.

According to UNICEF, 38 percent of girls and women have experienced some form of violence by a partner in the past year.

Shockingly, a third of those who experienced violence never sought help; 11 percent told someone but did not seek help, and only 54 percent sought assistance related to the experienced violence.

A resident of Tarime, Ghati Marwa, 29, says that after getting married to his husband, in 2016, he started beating her from time to time, but she just thought it was a part of marriage challenges.

“I used to endure the abuse silently, thinking it was my fate and that speaking out would only bring more harm instead of solving the problem, even my mother advised me not to tell anyone about such an issue, which I accepted,” she shares.

She adds: “It is not normal for a woman to come out and say what her husband did to her last night in our society. We were taught to stay silent and not share about the weaknesses of our husband.”

For her part, Nyandaro Mkama, 38, a resident of Chumwi, Musoma-Rural District of Mara Region, shares that her dreams were shattered by the hands of abuse without even opening her mouth to reveal what is going on in her life.

“For years, (since 2021) I suffered in silence, afraid to speak out and face the consequences. But remaining silent only allowed the abuse to continue. For now, I’m just thinking of reporting him to the gender desk so that other processes can follow, but if he will stop such evil behaviour, I’ll change my mind,” she confides, her voice trembling with emotion.

With similar sentiments of pain and resilience, a resident of Mbogwe District of Geita, Neema Philimon, 46, reveals. “I never used to report the incidents, fearing backlash and stigma from my community. It became a part of my daily life, and I convinced myself that I had to endure it,” she asserts.

She continues: “It took me a long time to realise that staying silent only perpetuated the cycle of abuse, as I have been hearing experts explain the impact of staying quiet and accepting violence, on radio programmes. Now, I refuse to be silent any longer,” Neema admits.

She adds: “For too long, I suffered in silence, but now I refuse to let fear dictate my life.”

Yunisi Kiraryo, 34, a resident of Tarime reveals that she used to think that keeping quiet while finding a solution was the best option.

 “Now I understand the importance of speaking out and seeking help as he already broke my left leg, I know that if I reported him earlier it could not have reached this level.”

These stories paint a grim picture of the reality faced by many women in Tanzania, especially in rural areas. Behind the veil of tradition and cultural norms, lies a dark truth that must be brought to light.

Gender desk officer at Musoma Rural District Council, Ms Maimuna Munanka says gender desks have been helping different women by educating them so that they can know the importance of speaking up on GBV incidents.

“Our goal is to break the cycle of violence and empower survivors to reclaim their lives, but it’s hard to achieve that if the victims hide the criminals and choose suffering over their wellbeing, more efforts on education about GBV are still needed, especially in rural areas,” she says.

 She continues: “Through counselling, legal support, and community outreach, we strive to create a safe space for survivors to heal and seek justice.”

A psychologist from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Fr Leons Maziku reveals that the normalisation of gender-based violence perpetuates a cycle of trauma and silence.

“Victims internalise the belief that speaking out will only lead to further harm, leading to feelings of helplessness and isolation,” she says.

She continues: “This silence becomes a barrier to healing, as survivors are deprived of the support and validation, they need to begin their journey towards recovery. Without intervention, the psychological scars of abuse can endure for a lifetime, impacting every aspect of a survivor’s well-being.”

On the other hand, a sociologist and assistant lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (Udsm), Mr Elisha Elibariki says victims are normalising violence instead of reporting it to mark the end of it.

“It appears like heritage for a woman to stay mute in all such situations, and they are even trained by elders to do so before being married, which makes them think and feel that it is proper to stay silent rather than screaming ‘save me’,” he said.

He shares that women need to be educated so that, by speaking out and seeking help, survivors can reclaim their power and break free from the cycle of abuse.

“It’s crucial to create a supportive environment where survivors feel empowered to share their stories and access the support they deserve,” he says.

The minister for Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Dr Doroth Gwajima says that people should break the silence and report the perpetrators of the GBV incidents as a support to the country in a war against GBV.

“People of both genders should not keep violence as one of the secrets in marriage because of the impact it brings to society. Reporting violent incidents helps the government and legal authorities take proper action as part of reducing and eradicating GBV in our country,” she explains.

The story has been written with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.

While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher

Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).

“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.

Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.

Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.

The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.

“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.

She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.

“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.

Cross-border transmission

The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.

The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.

Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”

The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.

The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.

Transparency urged

Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.

“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.

“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.

The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Source: allafrica.com

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