AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE wife of Zanzibar President Mariam Mwinyi has called on the Friends of Children and Women Community (Jumuiya ya Rafiki wa Wanawake na Watoto Zanzibar’ (RAWWAZA) through its ‘Wake up my Child’ (AMKA MWANANGU) campaign to continue working together with the government in the fight against gender based violence (GBV) and child abuse.
First Lady Mariam Mwinyi made the call when launching ‘AMKA MWANANGU’ that was established by RAWWAZA, the event which was held in Malindi.
In her speech First Lady Mariam Mwinyi said there was the need for the organisation to educate the children on how best to protect themselves against the vice as well as teaching them legal procedures to take when reporting such incidents and the procurement of witnesses.
She said that efforts by the organisation contribute immensely towards the implementation of the Zanzibar government goals in advancing justice, equality as well as increasing economic, political and social opportunities for the women of Zanzibar and Tanzania in general.
She beseeched parents, saying they have a big role to play in ensuring they protect their children and desist themselves from receiving bribes as a way to silence them after their children are sexually abused.
She called on the organization to make sure the double their efforts in order to successfully implement its vision and aims including those of ‘AMKA MWANANGU’ campaign during its one year of its implementation.
She expressed her pleasure in launching the ‘AMKA MWANANGU’ campaign that goes in tandem with celebrations to mark the World Day for Women on March 8.
Mama Mariam Mwinyi also praised the Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi by appointing women to various leadership positions.
She explained that there is good representation in the cabinet, House of Representatives, permanent secretaries, regional and district commissioners and promised to convey women’s greetings to the President calling for more leadership positions for women.
RAWWAZA chairperson Cassian Gallos said big achievements attained were attributed to better supervision by its patrons as well as good cooperation by its members.
RWWAZA secretary, Tatu Hussein Abdallah said the organisation was registered in 2016 with its head offices at Dole in Zanzibar Urban West Region and has 49 members.
She said the organisation submitted its report on its planned activities and funds set aside in the ‘AMKA MWANANGU’ campaign, and it expects to spend 133,792,000/-.
She said for the campaign to succeed they plan to meet students in various schools in every district and to educate parents via programmes in media outlets as well as meeting with teachers through workshops in all regions of Zanzibar.
