AfricaPress-Tanzania: MEMBERS of the House of Representatives have condemned widespread abandonment of children, pushing for stern measures against irresponsible parents.
Debating the Labour, Empowerment, Elderly, Women and Children Ministry’s 2020/2021 budget estimates in the House, the legislators accused some of the ministry’s senior officials of parental negligence.
Ole Representative Mussa Ali Mussa charged: “The neglect of children is becoming a serious problem…and shockingly, some of the irresponsible parents are in this ministry.”
Mr Ali said he had evidence of a ministry’s senior official who has abandoned his daughter.
“It pains to see that girl, a daughter of the government officer in the ministry responsible for protection of children, roaming the streets haplessly.”
Deputy Speaker Mgeni Hassan Juma argued that family neglect, mostly by fathers, was subjecting women and children to precarious situations, saying the government and all Zanzibaris should join forces against irresponsible parents.
“This (family neglect) is a war which requires the concerted efforts of both the government and citizens to win,” charged the deputy speaker and member of the House on a special seats ticket.
She further claimed that female employees, especially in the private sector, were being denied their rights to maternity leave and benefits, asking the government to intervene.
“Many female employees in the private sector lose jobs due to pregnancy…this is totally unfair and against human rights,” fumed the legislator.
Minister without Portfolio, Said Soud Said implored many women to come out and contest for political posts, particularly constituency representation, in the coming general elections later this year, pledging his personal support to female contestants.
“It’s high time women were given constituents if we want to register speedy social and economic development…women are both honest and hard workers,” he said, urging men to be seriously responsible in caring for their families to reduce the number of street children.
Winding up the debate, Acting Labour, Empowerment, Elderly, Women and Children Minister Riziki Pembe Juma, concurred with the backbenchers’ concerns and challenged all citizens to invest their time and fiscal resources on their families to mould a morally upright and prosperous society.
The House later approved the requested 18.5bn/-budget, with 15.3bn/-and 3.2bn/- allocated to recurrent and development expenditures, respectively.
