DAR ES SALAAM: WOMEN now make up 40.5 per cent of Members of Parliament, a figure that reflects steady progress in women’s political empowerment and inclusive leadership.
This development was highlighted by Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Advocate Amon Mpanju, during the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) in New York, United States.
Advocate Mpanju described the increase in women’s representation as a substantial achievement for Tanzanian women, underscoring that it goes beyond a statistic to signify broader inclusion in national decision-making.
The current figure marks a clear upward trend from 37.4 per cent in the 2020/2025 parliamentary term, showing sustained gains over recent years. Tanzania’s 40.5 per cent women representation also places the country above the global average of about 27.4 per cent for women in national parliaments, and above the East African regional average of around 32 per cent.
This comparison underscores that Tanzania is performing ahead of many peers in promoting women’s legislative participation.
“This progress reflects sustained efforts to ensure women’s voices are heard in all spheres of public life,” Mr Mpanju told delegates.
For ordinary women across the country, from small business owners in Mwanza to university students in Dar es Salaam, higher women representation means policymaking that is more responsive to issues that affect their lives directly.
Mr Mpanju highlighted the impact of gender-responsive budgeting, noting that local authorities set aside 10 per cent of internally generated revenue to provide interest-free loans to women, youth and persons with disabilities engaged in small-scale economic activities.
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“This programme has helped many start or expand businesses, increasing income and economic independence,” he said. The increased presence of women in Parliament aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection, particularly through the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).
In the 2024/2025 financial year, TASAF reached over 1.26 million beneficiaries, helping stabilise household incomes, expand access to education and health services and improve resilience to economic shocks.
“Cash transfers under the programme have helped stabilise household incomes, improve access to education and health services, and strengthen resilience to economic shocks,” Mr Mpanju added.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on sustaining and building on these gains. Analysts and advocates suggest that encouraging more women to contest direct constituency seats, increasing financial support for female candidates, and expanding mentorship programmes could help move Tanzania closer to full gender parity in political leadership.