Zanzibar — ETHIOPIAN President Sahle-Work Zewde yesterday hailed Tanzania for engineering peace and harmony in the continent.
The Ethiopian President further said Tanzania is also a good place and model in promoting gender equality as she congratulated President Samia Suluhu Hassan for being awarded an honourary doctorate degree, saying she deserves it because of her admirable leadership.
She was speaking at the ‘4th Intergenerational Retreat of the Young Women Leaders- African women Leaders’ network held in Zanzibar and graced by President Samia.
In her speech Ms Zewde said the ongoing changes and shifts in the world embittered by Covid-19 serve as wake-up call for Africa in the struggle for economic growth and end to abject poverty, unemployment, and gender inequality.
“This retreat is timely and important, as it enables us to discuss how we can resolve the challenges and move forward,” she stated.
She said although there has been an improvement in having more women in the legislature, cabinet, and judiciary, there are still a lot needed to be done in empowering young women to participate in decision making bodies.
“We need to lead the way, avoid lamenting, instead take concrete action, and as young women there are bigger opportunities, we need to make sure that we acquire education, skills and training as driving forces. In Ethiopia we have been training women leaders,” she said.
She also called for concerted efforts in addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV), a problem that has tarnished the image of African cultures and brought shame in families and in the community.
Former Malawian President Joyce Hilda Banda encouraged young women leaders to demonstrate that they can lead Africa to embrace positive changes.
“We are happy for the good reception in Zanzibar. But as Africa passes through different challenges, affecting mainly women, the retreat, a forum to discuss different issues will enable young women leaders to find ways to move forward,” she said.
Source: allafrica.com
Share this news
This Year’s Most Read News Stories
Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
Insecurity prompts Zanzibar to review its lucrative island leasing
The Tanzanian central government is planning to boost its security presence in the Zanzibar archipelago. A commission tasked with auditing the country’s security forces was appointed in July by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. It says it is concerned about the situation in the country’s Indian Ocean islands that are under the control of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar local government.Continue Reading
ZSSF money not for projects, says Ali Karume
Unguja. Veteran politician and diplomat Ali Karume has called on authorities of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government (SMZ) to refrain from using the Zanzibar Social Security Fund money for establishing commercial projects.Continue Reading
