Success in narrowing of gender gaps creditable; let’s keep it up

It is a similar scenario to that with respect to the headway it has made in the rapid reduction of the frequency of childbirth complications, still a thorny problem despite substantial progress.

The World Bank has drawn a bright picture in relation to accessing full economic potential for women across Tanzania, saying the country’s progress in that particular area is more pronounced than the average for African countries though the general level of poverty is cause for concern.

This situation is helping the country move millions of people out of poverty, as accessing economic freedom for women easily translates into enhanced welfare for several other people while the degree of impact is less noticeable when such welfare directly relates to men.

Still, what World Bank country director Mara Warwick has said in that respect, as to how this progress has contributed to the country’s sustained economic growth, needs to be sharpened.

She said that greater opportunities for women had helped the country climb from low income status to lower middle income level by July 2020.

A quick interpretation of how the equal access factor and the shift in global income status are given in that formulation is that it was the crucial aspect, perhaps the most important contributing factor.

That may be an academic debate, the big achievements that led to a shift in global economic status having arisen from altering the central government budget from 74 per cent recurrent expenditure and 26 per cent development expenditure to 61 per cent and 39 per cent respectively, within the first few months of Dr John Magufuli presidency.

In addition, greater probity in the use of government funds ensured that more was done with hefty amounts of development finance and some foreign loans, and hence the implementation of several major strategic projects.

There was also a fallout for equal access to opportunities in the way systematic renewal of infrastructure was conducted, especially for health and education, removing burdens from the shoulders of women.

Incessant school contributions were scrapped, this freeing up funds for women to engage in gainful economic activities and to make some savings.

In other words, even equal access has to do with good governance, though the role of specialized financial institutions and a series of NGOs was vital in that regard. We all gain from good governance.

While a wide base for women’s gainful activities has been created, the World Bank report points to a high level of poverty among women, while women’s control of land and agro-sector resources remains quite low.

In policy terms, there is now a different atmosphere of harmonising disciplined use of budgetary funds with higher accessibility of loan financing and creating property out of land, as they converge.

The report points to both achievements made and challenges the country still faces. That is only to be expected. Both provide crucial lessons it will pay for use to learn, with a view to faring better as we move ahead.