SPEAKER of the National Assembly Mussa Azzan Zungu has reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to strengthening laws that safeguard women’s rights and expand their participation in national development.
Mr Zungu made the remarks yesterday during the graduation ceremony of the Female Future Programme Cohort 11 organised by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), describing the initiative as an important platform for nurturing women leaders in both public and private sectors.
He said Parliament remains committed to ensuring that legal and policy frameworks translate into real opportunities for women, stressing that inclusive national development requires deliberate efforts to increase women’s representation in decision-making positions.
“Parliament has continued to enact laws that enable women to participate fully in national development,” he said, adding that governance systems must continue to be strengthened to ensure more women occupy strategic leadership positions.
Mr Zungu noted that empowering women through structured leadership programmes complements ongoing reforms aimed at promoting gender equality and inclusive governance across the country.
The graduation ceremony brought together employers, development partners and government officials, marking another milestone in efforts to build a sustainable pool of competent women leaders capable of contributing to Tanzania’s socioeconomic development.
Since its inception, the programme has trained 803 women leaders, including 158 graduates from this year’s cohort.
The initiative forms part of an international leadership network implemented in several countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Norway and Ghana.
ATE Chief Executive Officer Ms Suzanne Ndomba Doran said the programme is designed to strengthen women’s leadership skills and increase their representation in senior decision-making positions in both public and private institutions. She said participation from employers continues to grow, with 21 institutions sponsoring employees to join the programme this year.
“For more than a decade, this programme has built a strong pipeline of competent women leaders in both the private and public sectors,” she noted. Ms Ndomba-Doran added that empowering women to take up leadership roles is essential for driving positive change within institutions and communities.
On her part, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for East Africa Ms Caroline Mugalla said promoting women’s leadership in the workplace is critical for advancing social justice, economic growth and sustainable development.
She said initiatives such as the Female Future Programme help close gender gaps by equipping women with leadership skills and expanding opportunities for women to participate in decision-making processes.
Participants at the ceremony noted that programmes aimed at strengthening women’s leadership continue to play an important role in promoting gender equality and supporting inclusive development across the country.