THE Minister of State -Vice President's Office Environment, Ms Ummy Mwalimu.
THE Minister of State -Vice President's Office Environment, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, has called upon female councillors to press their councils to abide by government policy which requires them to allocate ten per cent of annual budget to empower women.
She said that ten per cent of the budget allocation was expected to boost women and youths development projects, thus it was compulsory for the councils to give priority on that.
Ms Ummy gave the call here yesterday as she was officiating at a three day workshop, which aimed at empowering women councillors from all councils in the region, on matters of good governance and leadership, being held at regional commissioner's office.
She said that many councils were not allocating the funds and if they did, it was at very low level, something which had been paralyzing women in economic matters, taking into account that many of them have been engaged into entrepreneurship.
"You are at the council to represent people in your respective wards, but as women, you should join in fighting for women interests including the budget which is needed to help them, this is your responsibility, if men don't see it as an important matter, you (female councillors) should consider it a priority to fight for your fellow women," she insisted.
She wondered why female councillors have been keeping quiet while their councils were not allocating funds for women development and yet no one was bold enough to press and reject such budgets.
Earlier, the director of Tanga Women Development Organization (TAWODE), Ms Fatma Hamza, said that her organization organized the workshop for female councillors in order to empower them participate fully in decision making and development process.
"We need to see women contribution in development matters from family level in health, water, environment, education, leadership and good governance issues, we want to build up their skills and courageous spirit," she said.
The Tanga District Commissioner, Ms Halima Dendego, thanked President Kikwete for showing confidence in Ummy which enabled her to retain her ministerial position and urged women in Tanga to continue collaborating with her in bringing about development in their region.
The workshop which was sponsored by Hanns Seidel Foundation is being attended by female councillors from all councils regardless their political affiliation and ideology.
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