Unguja. The chairperson of the National Advisory Committee for the Gender Equality Platform (GEF), has urged the private sector to create comprehensive databases of qualified female professionals.
This, she said, will facilitate their recruitment, promotion, and placement into leadership roles.
Kairuki made the call on Saturday, December 14, 2024, during a national gender equality platform meeting with private sector leaders in Zanzibar.
She emphasised that achieving gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a driver of economic growth.
“Given the momentum we are building, I encourage every business and institution to adopt gender-sensitive criteria for leadership, ensuring that we build inclusive workplaces,” she said.
Ms Kairuki, who also serves as an advisor to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, urged organisations to implement policies that promote equal pay, flexible working hours, and a zero-tolerance approach to harassment.
She also highlighted the unique economic and social context of Zanzibar, pointing out that the region has an invaluable opportunity to integrate gender equality into its broader development agenda.
“This platform serves as a reminder that the private sector can spearhead significant changes in gender equality, and leaders can play a crucial role by being proactive employers, investors, and innovators,” she stated.
However, Ms Kairuki was clear that gender equality should not come at the expense of ignoring the challenges faced by men.
“It is important to create opportunities for both men and women to succeed, ensuring an inclusive environment where everyone thrives. Our goal is to build a society where no one is left behind,” she added.
UN Women Deputy Resident Representative, Ms Katherine Gifford, supported Ms Kairuki’s remarks, emphasising that the private sector has the potential to address key issues such as pay disparities, inequality, and gender-based violence.
She also noted that businesses can promote women’s education, training, and professional development while adapting their procurement practices to be more inclusive.
“As we move forward, we need to strengthen partnerships between the private sector, the government, civil society, academia, and international organizations. These collaborations will enhance the sharing of resources and expertise, accelerating efforts to achieve gender equality,” said Ms Gifford.
The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Ms Riziki Pembe Juma, underscored that gender equality is attainable with commitment.
“This effort should go beyond institutions and extend to our homes, ensuring equal opportunities for both girls and boys,” she said.
The Zanzibar’s House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Ms Mgeni Hassan Juma also emphasized the importance of empowering women across all sectors.
“Each institution has a responsibility to ensure women are given the opportunities to lead and succeed. We must address policy challenges that could act as barriers to this progress,” she said.
Zanzibar National Chamber Of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Hamad Hamad, revealed that women make up 40 percent of the chamber’s members.
“We are seeing a growing number of female entrepreneurs, but more needs to be done to create equal standards that attract more women into business and leadership roles,” he stated.
The Jumbi Market secretary Faki Suleiman Khatib, called for more training and guidelines, recognizing that societal norms can be difficult to change.
“Not all challenges will be easy to solve, but we must come together to decide what is possible and educate the community on the changes needed,” he said.
The Zanzibar Day Care director, Ms Happiness Johnson, also spoke about discrimination against people with disabilities, stressing the need for equal opportunities for all.
“Many institutions exclude people with disabilities, and this must change. They should be given the same opportunities as others, based on their abilities,” she said.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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