|
`Association of Muslim women catalyst for their development`
2008-01-14 09:03:30
By Nasser Kigwangallah
Formation of the Muslim Women Association of Tanzania has been described as a step forward towards economic, cultural and social emancipation of women in the country.
The association`s chairperson, Aisha Sururu, told The Guardian in an interview in Dar es Salaam yesterday that as one of the organs of the National Muslim Council (Bakwata), the association was a catalyst for women`s development in all spheres of life.
She said Muslim women, most of them in abject poverty, should be empowered economically to run the affairs of their country as well as uplift their educational standards.
``This organization has indeed added the morale for more Muslim women to come forward and vie for political positions,`` Sururu said.
Sururu said Muslim women were facing many challenges such as poverty, illiteracy and disease, adding that their struggle should be directed at eradicating these vices among themselves and the entire community.
She urged Muslim women all over the country to make sure education is given first priority and should effective now, start educating themselves and their children through use of all available avenues.
The chairperson said that their strategy was to advocate for their Muslim women to refrain from contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids.
She said as part of celebrations to mark the new Muslim year -1429 Al-Hijrah - her organisation on Friday donated food items to patients admitted to Ocean Road Cancer Hospital, as well as to a number of orphanages in Dar es Salaam.
She said the items donated included milk, bread, detergent soaps, sugar and rice, all worth 10m/-.
|
