Zanzibar President Champions Women’s Empowerment and Political Participation in Groundbreaking Address
Zanzibar’s President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi has made a bold commitment to advancing gender equality, urging women to actively participate in the upcoming 2025 general elections and take leadership roles across the region.
Speaking at an International Women’s Day event, Dr. Mwinyi emphasized the government’s dedication to creating comprehensive economic opportunities for women through targeted empowerment policies and strategic programs.
Key highlights of the presidential address include:
• Commitment to increasing women’s representation in decision-making positions
• Launch of new economic empowerment platforms
• Introduction of a national plan to combat abuse against women and children
Statistical insights reveal significant progress in women’s economic integration. Through the Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency, 51.2% of beneficiaries are women, with 60% of loan disbursements allocated to female entrepreneurs.
Dr. Mwinyi challenged women to compete for leadership positions, pointing out that Zanzibar currently has only one female regional commissioner and two female district commissioners across its 11 districts and five regions.
The president outlined a comprehensive strategy focusing on strengthening women’s empowerment platforms from local to regional levels, emphasizing the critical role of women as drivers of development.
With women representing 52% of Zanzibar’s population, Dr. Mwinyi stressed the importance of creating systemic opportunities that enable women to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to societal progress.
