FAHAMU KUHUSU KANSA YA KIZAZI

Kwa hisani ya dada Dorosela Ferdinand wa Ubalozi wa Ireland TZ

SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER
(Even In The Absence Of Ovaries)

An Eye-Opener On Ovarian Cancer

THIS IS A MUST TO READ TO THE END
I hope you all take the time to read this and pass it on to all you can. Send this to the women in your life that you care about.Years ago, Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it was too late. This blood test finally identified her illness but alas, too late. She wrote a book to heighten awareness. Gene Wilder is her widower.
Kathy's Story: this is the story of Kathy West
As all of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has only recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer, but it is essentially Ovarian Cancer.Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way, with the 'tumor marker' CA-125 BLOOD TEST, and they are treated in the same way - surgery to remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and Carboplatin.Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same fate . That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will print it and give it or send it via E-mail to everybody you know.One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility for our own health care. I thought I had done that because I always had an annual physical and PAP smear, did a monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice a year, etc. I even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test last year. When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did not have to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ cancers.LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when they were removed), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer. Strange, isn't it?These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us: ONE out of every 55 women will get OVARIAN or PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER.The 'CLASSIC' symptoms are an ABDOMEN that rather SUDDENLY ENLARGES and CONSTIPATION and/or DIARRHEA .I had these classic symptoms and went to the doctor. Because these symptoms seemed to be 'abdominal', I went to a gastroenterologist. He ran tests that were designed to determine whether there was a bacteria infection; these tests were negative, and I was diagnosed with 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome'. I guess I would have accepted this diagnosis had it not been for my enlarged abdomen. I swear to you, it looked like I was 4-5 months pregnant! I therefore insisted on more testsThey took an X-ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was again assured that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to go on my scheduled month-long trip to Europe . I couldn't wear any of my slacks or shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned, and I KNEW something was radically wrong. I INSISTED on more tests, and they reluctantly) scheduled me for a CT-Scan (just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by 'taking charge of our own health care.'The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal). Needless to say, I had to cancel my trip and have FIVE POUNDS of fluid drawn off at the hospital (not a pleasant experience I assure you), but NOTHING compared to what was ahead of me.Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid. Finally, finally, finally, the doctor ran a CA-125 blood test, and I was properly diagnosedI HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, AND YET THIS SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME, not as part of my annual physical exam and not when I was symptomatic. This is an inexpensive and simple blood test!PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO INSIST ON A CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS.Be fore warned that their doctors might try to talk them out of it, saying, 'IT ISN'T NECESSARY.' Believe me, had I known then what I know now, we would have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage 3 cancer). Insist on the CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DO NOT take 'NO' for an answer!The normal range for a CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero and 35. MINE WAS 754. (That's right, 754!). If the number is slightly above 35, you can have another done in three or six months and keep a close eye on it, just as women do when they have fibroid tumors or when men have a slightly elevated PSA test (Prostatic Specific Antigens) that helps diagnose prostate cancer.Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early, and that's the goal in diagnosing any type of cancer - catching it early.Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one of them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125 test and have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life.And forward this message to every woman you know, and tell all of your female family members and friends. Though the median age for this cancer is 56, (and, guess what, I'm exactly 56, women as young as 22 have it. Age is no factor.

A NOTE FROM THE RN:
Well , after reading this, I made some calls. I found that the CA-125 test is an ovarian screening test equivalent to a man's PSA test prostate screen (which my husband's doctor automatically gives him in his physical each year and insurance pays for it). I called the general practitioner's office about having the test done. The nurse had never heard of it. She told me that she doubted that insurance would pay for it. So I called Prudential Insurance Co, and got the same response. Never heard of it - it won't be covered. I explained that it was the same as the PSA test they had paid for my husband for years. After conferring with whomever they confer with, she told me that the CA-125 would be covered.It is $75 in a GP's office and $125 at the GYN's. This is a screening test that should be required just like a PAP smear (a PAP smear cannot detect problems with your ovaries). And you must insist that your insurance company pay for it.Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan (his wife had it, too) are lobbying for women's health issues, saying that this test should be required in our physicals, just like the PAP and the mammogram.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND THIS OUT TO ALL THOSE YOU CAN. BE IT MALE OR FEMALE, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER, AS THEY CAN FORWARD IT ALSO TO THOSE LOVED ONES THEY KNOW.

'MIAKA 30 KWA WANAOWAPA MIMBA WANAFUNZI'

Kitendo cha kumpa mimba mwanafunzi (wa chekechea hadi sekondari) au mtoto yeyote aliye na umri chini ya miaka 18 si tu kinamharibia mtoto husika muelekeo wake wa kimasomo/ kimaisha kwa baadae,hasa anapolazimika kuigawa akili yake darasani na katika kumlea mtoto, bali pia ni ukatili wa hali ya juu dhidi ya haki za mtoto wa kike.Kitendo hiki kinafaa kulaaniwa na walimwengu wote wanaothamini na kuwaheshimu watoto.

Hivi karibuni Serikali imekuwa mbogo katika kutekeleza mikakati mbalimbali kuhakikisha watoto wa kike wanalindwa dhidi ya mimba za utotoni ikiwa ni pamoja na kupitishwa kwa sheria inayotoa kifungo cha miaka 30 kwa anayempa mimba au kufanya mapenzi na mwanafunzi. Jitihada hizi zinafaa kupongezwa na kila Mtanzania hasa mzazi. Utokomezaji wa vitendo hivyo hautafanikiwa iwapo jamii itaiachia serikali peke yake ilishughulikie swala hili kwani kufanikiwa kwake kikamilifu kutatokana na jamii kuepukana na mfumo dume unaoangalia mwanamke kama chombo cha starehe au chanzo cha mapato kisichokuwa na maamuzi yoyote. Jamii ikilielewa hili itaacha kuwaozesha watoto wa kike mapema mara tu wanapopevuka na pia itaacha mazoea ya kwenda kujadiliana mambo ya mahari baada ya mtoto kupewa ujauzito au kufumbia macho vitendo hivi vinapotokea na badala yake itaanza kufikilia namna gani mtoto huyu aliyekatiliwa aweze kufarijiwa na kumjengea msingi wa maisha yake ya baadae ikizingatiwa kuwa kuteleza sio kuanguka.

Lazima tukubaliane kwanza kuwa mimba hizi za utotoni wasababishaji ni watu wazima, wengine wakiwa na familia zao pamoja na utukutu au malezi mabovu ya baadhi ya watoto na hivyo kujikuta wakipeana mimba wao kwa wao iwe kwa makubaliano au kwa kubakwa.Kwa msingi huu ni dhahiri kuwa hata adhabu zitakazotolewa kwa wahusika lazima zitatofautiane.

Maswala la kujadili:

• Iwapo mwanaume aliyempa binti/mwanafunzi mimba amefungwa nani atawajibika kutoa gharama za malezi ya mtoto baada ya kuzaliwa?


• Kitendo cha kuumfunga mwanaume aliyempa mimba mwanafunzi miaka 30 sio chanzo kingine cha kuzalisha chokoraa mitaani kutokana na uwezekano wa watoto hawa kukosa malezi ya wazazi wawili?


• Mtoto anapoambiwa / anapogundua kuwa kuna mtu (baba yake) yupo gerezani kwa kosa la kusababisha yeye azaliwe kisaikolojia mtoto anakuwa katika hali gani?aaatawatafsiri vipi watu atakaogundua kuwa hawakufurahishwa na kuzaliwa kwake hadi wakamfunga aliyesababisha kuzaliwa huko?

Kutokana na maswala hayo yanayojitokeza hapo juu, je kuna haja ya kuamua kwamba wanaowapa mimba wanafunzi/watoto:

• Wahasiwe ili wasiendeleze tabia hiyo tena na wasifungwe ili wabaki wanahudumia watoto wao
• Baadhi ya mali zao zichukuliwe na mtoto aliyepewa ujaozito kwa ajili ya malezi ya mtoto atakayezaliwa
• Walazimishwe kuwasomesha wanafunzi waliowampa mimba baada ya kuzaa
• Familia za wanaume wanaowapa mimba wanafunzi zichukue jukumu la kuwalea na kuwasomesha wanafunzi wakishajifungua wakati waliowapa mimba wakiwa wanatumikia vifungo.
• Walazimishwe kumtunza mtoto wa kike pamoja na mtoto, kwa mtoto malezi yawe hadi atakapoanza kujitegemea na kwa mwanamke iwe hadi atakapoolewa au vinginevyo

Naomba tushirikiane kulijadiliiswala hili ili kutoa msaada endelevu katika maisha ya mtoto wa kike baada ya kujifungua. je adhabu inayotolewa inamsaidia vipi mtoto wa kike aliyekwishapatwa na dhahama hilo?

UNAONA NINI HAPA?

mwanamke wa Kiislamu ana nafasi sawa na mwanaume

na Nasra Abdallah
(Tanzania Daima,22-09-2008)

IMEELEZWA wanawake wa Kiislamu wana nafasi sawasawa na wanaume katika kutoa maoni na ushauri katika jamii.
Hayo yalibainishwa mwishoni mwa wiki na Sheikh Suleman Kivemile alipokuwa akitoa mada ya nafasi ya mwanamke kwenye kangangamono lililoandaliwa na Ofisi ya World Islamic Call Society kwa kushirikana na Baraza Kuu la Wanawake wa Kiislam Tanzania.
Alisema kuna dhana iliyojengeka katika jamii hasa ya kiislam kuwa mwanamke amekuja kumtumika mwanaume, jambo ambalo alisema halina maana yoyote.
Aidha, alisema nadharia zote zinazoonekana kumkandamiza mwanaume ni dhuluma na kuongeza kwamba ikumbukwe kuwa wanawake ndio walioijaza dunia.
“Baraza la Wanawake wa Kiislam lina wajibu wa kuhakikisha linatoa elimu kwa umma wa Kiislamu kuhusu nafasi aliyonayo mwanamke katika jamiii, kwani bila hivyo wanawake watakuwa wakiendelea kunyanyasika na kudharaulika kutokana na dhana mbaya zilizojengeka kwa jamii,” alisema Sheikh huyo.
Akizungumzia kuhusu mwanamke kubadili jina la pili pindi anapoolewa na kutumia la mumewe, alisema huo ni udhalilishaji mkubwa.
Kuhusu utamaduni wa mwanamke wakiislam kukaa eda pindi anapofiwa na mumewe na kuvalishwa nguo moja katika kipindi chote hicho, alisema dini ya Kiislamu hailikubali hilo hata kidogo.
“Hii kwa kweli katika dini haipo na ni kumnyima haki yake mwanamke kwenda kujitafutia riziki na kufanya shughuli ndogondogo za nyumbani ukizingatia kwamba baada ya mumewwe kufariki ndiye anayekuwa mzalishaji hapo nyumbani, sasa kwa kumfungia ndani atawezaje kuwatafutia watoto wake mahitaji?” alihoji.
Kwa upande wake, Naibu Katibu wa Baraza la Wanawake, Mayasa Sadallah, alisema lengo la kongamano hilo ni kuwaelimisha wanawake nafasi zao katika jamii.
Mada mbalimbali zilijadiliwa katika kongamano hilo zikiwemo mama na malezi ya jamii, ukimwi na hatari zake katika jamii, Mwezi Mtukufu wa Ramadhani ibada na tabia, dhima ya mwanamke katika uzalishaji wa uchumi wa familia.

EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN WOMEN

WAKIMBIZI NI BINADAMU KAMA SISI TUSIWABAGUE

Wanawake na watoto ndio waathirika wakubwa wa vita. Watoto hujikuta wakikosa mapenzi mazuri ya wazazi wao, wakipoteza muelekeo wa tamaduni zao kutokana na wazazi kuwa bize na mihangaiko ya kila siku wakijitafutia chochote na mbaya zaidi huathirika kisaikolojia na kujikuta wakijenga maisha ya utegemezi (kutokana na kuona wazazi wao wanavyopanga foleni kila mara kupokea misaada) na ubinafsi (kwani maisha ya kambini ni survival for the fittest). Katika vibanda hivyo vidogo mara nyingi faragha kwa wazazi huwa ngumu na hivyo kusababisha watoto wadogo kujifunza mambo makubwa kabla ya wakati wao....Hili ni tatizo na Tanzania tuna mifano mingi ya kujifunzia.

MADHARA YA VITA

Baadhi ya wakimbizi wa Kirundi katika kambi ya Mtabila

Ni dhahiri na ukweli usiopingika kuwa waathirika wakubwa wa vita ni watoto na wanawake. Wanawake wengi hujikuta wakibeba majukumu ya kulea familia pekee yao waume zao wakiwa aidha wamekufa au wamejichimbia kusikoeleweka kutafuta maisha. Hongera zao kwa wale wanaume ambao huamua kukabiliana na maisha na kubaki wakitunza familia zao katika kipindi hicho kigumu. Katika maisha haya ya ukimbizi watoto hujikuta wakipoteza utamaduni wao na kukosa malezi mazuri.Sote tunajua kuwa waanzishaji wa vita ni wanaume (mara nyingi) wakigombea vyeo vitakavyowawezesha kunufaisha matumbo yao kwa visingizio kedekede,mara eti wanadai demokrasia, mara wanataka kujitenga,mara wanataka hiki, kile, ili mradi tu kuhalalisha madhambi yao.Mifano ipo mingi mfano;Sidan,DRC,Burundi,Sri-Lanka,Chad n.k.

WOMEN LEADERSHIP VS RELIGION

WOMEN LEADERSHIP VS RELIGION

“Religions often treat women as inferior to men - women have been denied leadership roles, they are told to be submissive, and religious doctrines are used to control them both in society and the family”.

Having passed through the above quotation I would like to pose this topic to all of us to discuss so that we may finally come up with a general understanding as to whether the current status of women before most world religions is by default or by design. I am of the opinion that most of us have heard/seen many times these words ‘all people are equal before the Almighty God’ whether through formal religious meetings, writings, or through friendly talks with our buddies. Perhaps we should ask ourselves the kind of equality that is implied in this slogan. I understand the meaning is subject to multiple interpretations, however, My position is that the implied equality in nothing else rather than equality in terms of; ownership of property, decision making, electing and being elected etc. summarily it can be concluded as an equal participation of both men and women in all aspects of life.

What’s the real situation on the ground concerning women’s position in churches, mosques, synagogues, etc? Indeed this issue has been causing tense debates among world religions to the extent of causing defection/splitting within some religious institutions in our country. While some religions are laissez-faire enough to allow such debates to take place, in other religions people who attempt to initiate such debates are seen as deviants and thus are heavily condemned as a way of deterring others.

Why are women not ordained to take positions such as of bishops, padres, sheikhs, etc? Are there scriptures that forbid women to take such positions? I doubt if such scripture does exist, as far as I understand there are some Christian denomination that have gone as far as ordaining women to positions of pastor, nevertheless, there are some uncentralised religious groups that are owned by female leaders/bishop.
It is unshakable truth that the dominant patriarchy system has over matured to the extent of penetrating to all aspects of our social lives, religion being part of the victimized institution. Its time now that we started rectifying this misconception that’s has been persisting for years now to the extent of being regarded as Godly decision that it’s a sin for a woman to be ordained.

If indeed all people are equal before God then this should be reflected in both our words and deeds and hence stop clinging to misleading interpretations that favor male dominance in our societies. If women can till the land, drive, take care of families, become engineers, lecturers ;( in short do all activities that a man does) what difficulty will they face to only hold the scriptures (for instance the bible) and narrate the good news to people? I think this might even be easier so to speak as it doesn’t need one to be much energetic!!!(Jokes)

I have collected some of the writings that talks about women leaders who have been sighted in the bible. Let’s pass through and see whether the bible does justify or falsify women ordination.

Source:http://www.religioustolerance.org/femclrg5.htm

Female Prophets, Disciples, Ministers & Apostles Mentioned in the Bible
There were many women recorded in the Bible who exhibited religious leadership. Their stories appear in both the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and Christian Scriptures (New Testament):
Exodus 15:24: Miriam, the daughter of Aaron was a prophet and one of the triad of leaders of Israel during the Exodus from Egypt.
Judges 4 & 5: Deborah, a prophet-judge, headed the army of ancient Israel.
2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22 Huldah, a prophet, verified the authenticity of the "Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses" - the Book of Deuteronomy. She triggered a religious renewal.
Acts 9:36 The author of Luke referred to a female disciple of Jesus by her Aramaic name Tabitha, who was also known by her Greek name Dorcas. She became sick had died; St. Peter brought her back to life.
Acts 21:8: Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters who were prophets.
Philippians 4:2: Paul refers to two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as his co-workers who were active evangelicals, spreading the gospel.
Romans 16:1: Paul refers to Phoebe as a minister or deacon of the church at Cenchrea. The Greek word which describes her function is "diakonos" which means literally "official servant." She is the only deacon in the Bible to be identified by name. Some translations say deaconess; others try to obscure her position by mistranslating the Greek as a simple "servant" or "helper". Paul later refers to Phoebe as a woman, calling her "our sister." This prevented later church leaders from hiding her gender as they did with Junia in Romans 16:7 below - by changing her name and implying that she was a man.
Romans 16:3: Paul refers to Priscilla as another of his "fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (NIV) Other translations refer to her as a "co-worker". But other translations attempt to downgrade her status by calling her a "helper". The original Greek word is "synergoi", which literally means "fellow worker" or "colleague." 1 It is worth noting that Paul refers to Priscilla and her husband as "Priscilla and Aquila" in this passage and as "Aquila and Priscilla" in 1 Corinthians 16:19. It would appear that the order is not important to Paul. As in Galatians 3:28, he apparently believed that there is no distinction among those who have been baptized into Christ between male and female.
Romans 16:7: Paul refers to a male apostle, Andronicus, and a female apostle, Junia, as "outstanding among the apostles" (NIV) Every Greek and Latin church Father until Giles of Rome (circa 1000 CE) acknowledged that Junia was a woman. 2,3 After that time, various writers and translators of the Bible resorted to deceptions in order to suppress her gender. For example:
The Amplified Bible translates this passage as "They are men held in high esteem among the apostles" The Revised Standard Version shows it as "they are men of note among the apostles". The reference to them both being men does not appear in the original Greek text. The word "men" was simply inserted by the translators, apparently because the translators' minds recoiled from the concept of a female apostle.
Many translations, including the Amplified Bible, Rheims New Testament, New American Standard Bible, and the New International Version simply picked the letter "s" out of thin air, and converted the original "Junia" (a woman's name) into "Junias" (a man's). Again, it was probably inconceivable to the translators that Paul would recognize a woman as an apostle.
Female Leaders Mentioned in Early Christian Writings
There are many Gospels and other early Christian writings that never made it into the official canon. Some shed light of the role of women in various early Christian groups:
The Christian Gnostic tradition represented one of the three main forms of early Christianity - the others being Jewish Christianity and Pauline Christianity. Gnostic texts show that women held senior roles as teachers, prophets and missionaries. They conducted rituals such as baptism and the Eucharist. They performed exorcisms. 4
The Gospel of Philip, was widely used among early Christian congregations. It portrayed Mary Magdalene as the companion of Jesus, in a position of very high authority within the early Christian movement.
The Gospel of Mary described Mary Magdalene as a leader of Jesus' disciples. She delivering a passionate sermon to the disciples after his resurrection. This raised their spirits and inspired them to evangelize the known world.
Philoumene, a woman, headed a Christian theological school in Rome during the second century CE. 5
Sponsored link:
Examples of Female Christian Leaders from the Archaeological Record
Author Karen Jo Torjensen cites: 6
An ancient mosaic which shows four female figures. One is identified as Bishop Theodora. The feminine form for bishop (episcopa) is used.
A 3rd or 4th century burial site on the Greek island of Thera contains an epitaph referring to Epiktas, a "presbytis" (priest or presbyter). Epiktas is a woman's name.
A 2nd or 3rd century Christian inscription in Egypt for Artemidoras, whose mother is described as "Paniskianes, being an elder" (presbytera)
A memorial from the 3rd century for Ammion the elder (presbytera)
A 4th or 5th century Sicilian inscription referring to Kale the elder. (presbytis)
Prohibition of Women from Positions of Power by the Early Church
During the 4th and 5th century, the Christian church gradually extinguished women's access to positions of power in the church:
Council of Laodicea (352 CE): Women were forbidden from the priesthood. They also were prohibited from presiding over churches. They decided that "One ought not to establish in the church the women called overseers (presbutidas)....women must not approach the altar."
Fourth Synod of Carthage (398 CE) "A woman, however learned and holy, may not presume to teach men in an assembly...A woman may not baptize."
Council of Chalcedon (451 CE). Canon #15 of the Council states: 7 "No woman under 40 years of age is to be ordained a deacon, and then only after close scrutiny." Apparently, the council wanted to start restricting the ordination of deaconesses, which must have been a common practice at the time. And, of course, anyone ordained to the Holy Order of Deacon would be eligible for later ordination to the priesthood as well. 8


Source:http://www.religioustolerance.org/femclrg5.htm

WANAWAKE NA VITI MAALUMU BUNGENI

Leo hii nimeona niimuvuzishe makala hii ambayo niliitoa katika gazeti la majira wakati wa kipindi cha kuelekea uchaguzi wa mwaka 2005,nimefanya hivi makusudi nikiamini kuwa maada hii bado ni muhimu na kuwa itaendelea kuwa muhimu katika siku zijazo hadi hapo jamii yetu itakapoepukana na mfumo dume.

KWELI VITI MAALUMU VINAWASAIDIA WANAWAKE?

Dhana ya kuwepo kwa viti maalumu kwa ajili ya wanamake bungeni imekuwa ikipokewa kwa mitizamo tofauti katika jamii.Wapo wenye mtizamo hasi dhidi ya viti hivyo ambapo wao huona kwamba kuwepo kwa viti maalumu vya wanawake bungeni ni kwenda kinyume na kaulimbiu ya haki sawa na kwamba ni kinyume na demoracia.Pia hudai kwamba viti maalumu vinamanisha kwamba mtu anachaguliwa kwa sababu tu ya jinsia yake na kwamba hali hii inaweza kuleta migogoro na hali ya wasi wasi katika jamii.

Kwa upande mwingine wale watetezi wa viti maalumu vya wanawake bungeni hudai kwamba viti malumu haviwabagui wanaume, bali vinafidia pengo la kihistoria lililopelekea mwanamke kutoshirikishwa katika maamuzi muhimu kwa muda mrefu sana.Pili ni kwamba wanawake nao wana haki ya kuwakilishwa na kuwakilisha.Tatu ni kwamba mchango wa wanawake unahitajika ili kuleta uwiano wa kisiasa.Na mwisho ni kwamba kunapokuwepo na ubaguzi wa kijinsia tunapoteza vipaji vingi muhimu katika jamii.

Sababu zote zinazotolewa na pande zote mbili ni za msingi,hivyo si busara kuzipuuza.Hata hivyo katika jamii ambazo mfumo dume umeshika hatamu kuanzishwa kwa mpango huu ni muhimu ikizingatiwa kwamba si wanaume pekee bali hata wanawake wenyewe huona kwamba kwa mwanamke kushika nafasi ya uongozi si sahihi.Ladba tujikumbushe kitu kimoja kuhusu uchaguzi wa kidemocrasia,uchaguzi wa kidemocrasia unamaanisha kwamba wale waliochaguliwa wanakuwa ni taswira ya jamii husika,yaani kwamba kama washiriki katika uchaguzi walikuwa wanaume,wanawake ,vilema na kadhalika basi miongoni mwa waliochaguliwa tunategemea kutakuwa na uwiano sawa kati ya waliochaguliwa na makundi yaliyoshiriki katika kuchagua.Inapotokea kwamba wanochaguliwa ni jinsia moja tu,yaani wanaume, basi swala hili sio la kulipuuza na hapo ndio mpango wa viti maalumu kwa wanawke unapokuwa na umuhimu wake.

Viti maalumu vinalenga kuwawezesha wanawake kushika hatamu za uongozi hivyo kuuwa kasumba ya kwamba mwanamke hawezi kuongoza.Hata hivyo ni muhimu kuzingatia kwamba mpango wa viti maalumu popote pale duniani sio ajenda ya kudumu,bali unalenga kuifanya jamii itambue kwamba wanawake wanaweza kuongoza kama walivyo wanaume ili hatimaye jamii ikishaelimika na kuwakubali wanawake kwamba wanaweza basi waachwe wenyewe wasimame kwa miguu yao wenyewe kwenye vinyang’anyiro vya uchaguzi kwenye majimbo.

Wabunge wengi wanawake wamekuwa wakiingia bungeni kutokana na kuwepo kwa mpango huu.Takwimu zinaonyesha kwamba tangu mpango huu uanzishwe mwaka 1985 hadi mwaka 2000,asilimia tisini na tano ya wabunge wanawake Tanzania wameingia bungeni kwa mpango wa viti maalumu.Mpango wa viti maalumu vya wanawake haupo Tanzania tu bali umeenea katika nchi nyingi duniani kama vile,Norway,Denmark.Sweden,Afrika Kusini,Uganda na kadhalika.Jumuiya ya SADC nayo haiko nyuma katika suala hili kwani ina azimio linalosema kwamba asilimia thelathini ya wabunge wake lazima wawe wanawake.

Baada ya kuelezea umuhimu wa kuwepo kwa viti maalumu vya wanawake katika mabunge hususani bunge letu,ni wakati sasa wa kujiuliza je katika Tanzania viti maalumu vya wanawake vinawasaidiaje wanawake wa kitanzania na watanzania wote kwa ujumla?Swali hili ni la msingi ikizingatiwa kwamba kukubalika kwa wanawake kama viongozi ndani ya jamii iliyotopea kwenye mfumo dume kunategemea ni kwa kiasi gani wale wanawake walio madarakani wameweza kuonyesha cheche zao.Je wameweza kujionyeha kivitendo kwamba wanaweza kuongoza na kujali maslahi ya jamii nzima?Je wameyashughulikiaje matatizo yanayowakabili wanawake wenzao? au je ni kwa kiasi gani wameweza kuwawakilisha wanawake wenzao?Uzoefu unaonyesha kwamba wanawake ndio wapigaji kura wakubwa.Hivyo basi ni dhahiri kwamba iwapo wanawake waliongia bungeni kwa mpango wa viti maalumu wataweza kuwawakilisha vyema wanawake wenzao basi watakuwa wamejiweka katika nafasi nzuri ya kusimama wenyewe kwenye chaguzi na kushinda kwa kishindo.Lakini kama watabakia kuwa wapitishaji hoja tu bungeni na kuwasahau wanawake wenzao itakuwa vigumu kwao kukubalika na kuaminiwa na jamii ya wapiga kura,hasa wanawake hivyo watabaki wakiomba mpango wa viti maalumu uwe ni wa kudumu kwani kamwe katika hali hiyo hawawezi kusimama peke yao kwenye chaguzi.Hali hii itawapa ushindi wa bure wale wenye mtizamo hasi dhidi ya viti maalumu vya wanawake.

Tunapoelekea kwenye uchaguzi mkuu mwakani kuna haja ya kuyafanyia kazi mambo mawili ambayo mwandishi wa Uganda Silvia Tamale ameyazungumzia katika kitabu chake “When Hen Begin to Crow:Gender an Parliamentary Politic in Uganda.Mwandishi huyu anaelezea mambo ambayo wanawake wanaoingia bungeni kwa njia ya viti maalumu wanapaswa kuyazingatia na kuyatilia maanani watakapokuwa bungeni.Silvia ametumia maneno mawili kuainisha aina ,mbili za wabunge wa viti maalumu ambazo jamii hasa ya wanawake inapaswa kuzitambua kabla haijapendekeza majina ya kuwania hivyo viti maalumu.Ametumia maneno “standing for”kusimama kwa niaba ya na “acting for”kufnya kazi kwa niaba ya.

Mwandishi huyu ametumia maneno standing for kumaanisha wabunge wa viti maalumu vya wanawake ambao wamo bungeni kwa sababu tu hiyo nafasi inatakiwa ikaliwe na mwanamke na wala si kwamba wanaguswa na matatizo ya wanawake wenzao.Wabunge hawa wanaoimama kwa niaba ya wanawake ni hatari sana kwani wamo bungeni kwa maslahi yao binafsi na si kuwatetea na kuwawakilisha wanawake wenzao.Kipimo cha wabunge wa ina hii wala hakihitaji elimu kubwa bali ni kujiuliza swali moja tu,je ni mara ngapi mbunge Fulani amewasemea wanawake wenzake bungeni?Kama jibu litakuwa ni hapana basi huyo hakufai,hupo tu pole kama sanamu na si muwakilishi wa wanawake, hivyo sio wa kumpendekeza kwenye uchaguzi ujao kwani wabunge wa aina hii ndio huishia tu kupiga vigelegele na kugonga meza kwa nguvu kuunga hoja za wenzao.Hata kama mfumo dume utakuwa umeota mizizi hadi bungeni bado hio sio sababu tosha ya kumzuia mbunge wa viti maalumu asiwasemee wanawake wenzake hata siku moja awapo bungeni ikizingatiwa kuwa hiyo ndio kazi aliyoendea huko.

Ni mara nyingi mambo ya kuwadhalilisha wanawake yamekuwa yakitokea na bado wabunge wanawake wakayafumbia macho.Kama wangekuwa wanayawakilisha matatizo ya wanayowakabili wanawake bungeni mara kwa mara ni dhahiri kwamba sera zinazolenga kuyatatua zingekuwa zinapitishwa na bunge na hivyo kumfanya mwanamke awe na nafasi sawa ya kuifurahia nchi yetu nzuri sawa na mwanaume.Hata hivyo simaanishi kwamba si kazi ya wabunge wanaume kuwasemea wanawake la hasha!kila mbunge ana wajibu wa kuwawakilisha wananchi wake wote waliompigia kura,lakini jukumu la kuwawakiliha wanawake bungeni linawagusa zaidi wabunge wanawake kwa sababu wao ndio wanaoelewa kwa undani matatizo yanayowakabili wanawake wenzao.Hivyo basi ni muhimu kwa wabunge hawa wanawake wakajua kuwa kazi inayowakabili bungeni ni kuanzisha hoja zitakazopelekea kutatuliwa kwa matatizo ya wanawake bungeni na si kwenda kuonyesha mitindo ya nguo zao na vito walivyosheheni miilini mwao na kudakia hoja za wenzao tu.

Mambo mengine ya kuwadhalilisha wanawake yamekuwa yakitendeka ndani ya bunge na wabunge wanawake wakakaa tu kimya hadi TAWLA,TAMWA na TGNP wapige kelele.Mifano michache ni pale spika wa bunge alipoteleza katika maongezi yake fulani na kudai watu fulani wasiwe na wivu wa kike na pale Waziri wa Elimu alipopinga swala la kuwaruhuu wasichana waliopata mimba wakiwa shule waendelee na shule akidai kufanya hivyo ni kuhamasisha umalaya,matamko ya kupinga kauli hizi hayakutoka ndani ya bunge bali nje ya bunge.Lazima wabunge watambue kwamba tmko likitolewa ndani ya bunge linakuwa na uzito wa kipakeeHii ni changamoto tosha kwa wabunge wanawake hasusani viti maalumu katika uchaguzi ujao.

Wabunge wa viti maalumu vya wanawake wa aina ya pili(acting for)ni wale ambao kabla hata hawajaingia bungeni wanakuwa tayari wana lundo la kero ambapo wakiishaingia bungeni kazi yao ni moja tu,kuzitafutia utatuzi kwa kuzianzishia hoja ambazo zitapelekea utatuzi wazo.Kwa maana nyingine ni kwamba wabunge wa aina hii hawasimami tu kwa ajili ya kuleta uwiano mzuri kati ya wabunge wanawake na wanaume bungeni kama wale wale wa kundi la kwanza(standing for)bali wapo bungeni kuwawakilisha na kuwasemea wanawake wenzao.Hawa ni wabunge wanaokerwa kweli kweli na matatizo yanayowakabili wanawake.Wabunge wa namna hii ndio wanaotakiwa katika Tanzania yetu kwani uwakilishi wao utapelekea jamii nzima kukubali kwamba kweli wanawake nao wanaweza kuongoza hivyo kuuwa kasumba ya mfumo dume,hali hii itawafanya wanawake washiriki katika chaguzi kwa miguu yao wenyewe.Hakuna shaka kwamba umanufaa wa viti maalumu utakuwa umeonekana.Ni matumaini yangu kuwa kila mbunge husika atakuwa tayari ameishajijua yupo kwenye kundi gani.Aliye kwenye kundi la kwanza huu ni wakati mzuri wa kujirekebisha ili kujiweka katika nafasi nzuri katika chaguzi zijazo.

WACHAPAKAZI WALIOSAHAULIKA

Naomba nianze mjadala huu kwa kuwapitisha kwenye mahojiano kati ya Bwana Macdonalds ambaye ni Mwekezaji toka Uingereza na Mzee Fungameza ambaye ni mlinzi katika kampuni ya Macdonalds. ENDELEA!!!
Macdonalds:Mkeo anafanya kazi gani bwn Fungameza?
Mzee Fungameza:Hafanyi kazi Boss!
Macdonalds:Akiamka asubuhi huwa anafanya nini?
Mzee Fungameza:Huwa anatandika kitanda,kufagia uwanja,kuwapikia watoto pamoja na mimi chai,kisha kuwasindikiza watoto shule na akirudi huenda kisimani kuchota maji.
Macdonalds:Mchana huwa anafanya nini?
Mzee Fungameza:Mchana huenda kuokota kuni za kupikia na kuhakikisha chakula kinakuwa tayari watoto wakirudi.
Macdonalds:Jioni huwa anafanya nini?
Mzee Fungameza:Jioni huwa anaenda kuchota maji ,anawaogesha watoto,ananichemshia maji ya kuoga na kupika chakula cha jioni
Macdonalds: Siku za weekend mkeo huwa anafanya nini?
Mzee Fungameza:huwa anapika kifungua kinywa,chakula cha mchana,chakula cha jioni,anafua nguo zangu,zake na za watoto,anaenda shamba na …
Macdonalds:Kwa hiyo mzee Fungameza mkeo anafanya kazi gain?
Mzee Fungameza:HAFANYI KAZI BOSS NADHANI NIMESHAKUAMBIA MAPEMA
Macdonalds: MY GOD!!!

Naam, hakuna ubishi kwamba kuna watu wengi ,wanaume kwa wanawake wenye mawazo kama ya Mzee Fungameza ambao kwao kazi ni ile shughuli inayompatia mtu malipo/vijisenti ya moja kwa moja. Kwa hiyo kwao kazi isiyoambatana na malipo ya moja kwa moja sio KAZI,ila kwa kazi zenye malipo ya moja kwa moja kama kazi aifanyayo Mzee Fungameza ndio kazi bila kujali ni kiasi gani analeta nyumbani kwisho wa mwezi.Ni kwa bahati mbaya sana kwamba jamii imezipachika jina kazi zisizokuwa na malipo ya moja kwa moja kuwa ni za WANAWAKE.kwa hiyo kazi zifanyikazo majumbani kwetu kama kufua,kufagia,kudeki,kuosha vyombo,kuogesha watoto,kutafuta kuni,kuchota maji,kupika nk huonekana kuwa ni za kike.Watoto wanazaliwa katika jamii hizi na kujikuta wakiendeleza dhana hii ambayo mi naiona potofu.Ah,mama mi nikadeki kwani mimi ni mwanamke?atasikika mototo wa kiume akisema hivyo.Haishangazi kuwa wanaume walioa wakikutwa wanafanya kazi hizo huonekana WAMEKAMATWA,WAMELISHWA LIMBWATA,WAMEKALIWA nk.Inashangaza kuwa wanawake ndio huwa wa kwanza kuwashutumu wanaume (kaka zao/wadogo zao) wanapowaona wanafanya kazi hizo ‘za kike’ badala ya kuwaunga mkono na kuwapa moyo kwa ushirikiano mzuri katika ndoa zao.Lakini cha kushangaza ni pale kazi hizi hizi ‘za kike’ zinapohusisha malipo ya moja kwa moja/vijisenti, wanaume huzikimbilia,huzipora na kuzimiliki.WHY??/KWANINI???inawezekana labda sieleweki! Nina maanisha UDOBI (iwe dobi wa mtaani au dry cleaner-huku ni kufua nguo),UPISHI MAHOTELINI-kupika ni kupika tu,UUZAJI MAJI MITAANI-huku ni kuchota maji,UUZAJI KUNI NA MKAA-huku ni kutafuta kuni,UFAGIZI MASOKONI/BARABARANI/MAOFISINI-huku nikufagia N.K.Tuko pamoja?kwa hiyo hapa swala la kazi za ‘kike” wala kazi za ‘kiume’ halipo.kilicho dhahiri ni kwamba jamii haiheshimu kazi kubwa wazifanyazo dada/mama(hasa wa vijijini) zetu kutwa nzima bila kupumzika.Ukitaka kujua kuwa wanawake huchangia kiasi kikubwa sana cha pesa katika maendeleo ya familia zetu basi ajili watu/mtu wa kufanya kazi zote anazofanya mwanamke kwa siku nyumbani halafu uone utachajiwa kiasi gani.Hapo utaona ni kiasi gani cha pesa huyu kiumbe jasiri amekiokoa.Karibuni wadau,mjadala uko wazi,mawazo yenu ni muhimu katika katika kuondoa fikra potofu iliyojikita katika jamii yetu ya kutoheshimu mchango wa wanawake(hasa mwanamke wa kiafrika) katika maisha yetu ya kile siku…welcome

AFRICAN WOMAN 2

African woman,the source of our life,our strenght,our confidence.No matter how caring they are we still mistreat them,harass them.Lets be human beings and put them where they deserve.its discouraging to see that most of women unknowignly find themself supporting these mistreatments.Woman at different times have been raising their voices but to no avail!BRAVO for JK for raising higher and higher women voices in Tanzania.The challenge remains to these raised voices of women to deliver,will these multitude of female MPs deliver?Of course this should not be left to women alone since TOGETHER WE WILL but we expect them to play a vanguad role bearing in mind that they knowtheir needs better than men,however we will be reaady to give them a big hand whenever they need it.Guys your ideas plz...

AFRICAN WOMEN

hi guys,there is no doubt that the Women of this world and african women in particular have been performing a lot of wonders in our societies in various aspects of our daily lives BRAVO!,we all know how harshly these same women are treated by a man whom they tried their level best to make him a MAN,we know how much they take care of us from whem we are zero months to when we are 100 + years.what are they paid?the answer is real...in the light of this context i pose before you this issue so that we can discuss the fate of our sisters ,mothers,aunties,and grandmothers.....