More women in the Tanzanian legislature: Do numbers matter?

Abstract

This study examines the changes that followed the rise in the number of female parliamentarians in the Tanzanian legislature and the contextual factors undermining the potential power of the increased number of female MPs. As found in a number of other countries, with more women in parliament, women's interests, concerns and perspective have been better incorporated into parliamentary debates and policy-making in Tanzania. However, the increase in female parliamentary representation challenges the existence of the special-seat system that helped women reach a large minority. The effectiveness of female MPs in Tanzania will improve only with a stronger legislature and a sturdier opposition. If the special-seat system is to remain, a new selection mechanism that allows direct cross-party competition among special-seat candidates should be considered to bring better qualified women into parliament.Keywords: a critical mass; a large minority; women's legislative representation; women in the Tanzanian legislature Women's representation in the Tanzanian parliament (or Bunge in Kiswahili) has increased over time (Table 1). In the previous parliament (2005Á10), women occupied 99 (30.65%) of 323 parliamentary seats. In line with the 2005 African Union's call for 50% representation of women at all levels of political decisionmaking positions by 2015, the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, the Revolutionary Party) put forth a target of 50/50 representation by men and women in politics by 2010 through its election manifesto in 2005. As the next election, on 31 October 2010, came closer, pressure mounted for a constitutional change or for a significant number of female candidates for constituency seats to put the CCM's words into action. However, the preliminary parliamentary election results suggest that it is not likely that the country will significantly increase its female legislative representation without a substantial increase in the number of parliamentary seats reserved for women. As of 3 November 2010, only 20 women were elected in constituencies, with no results yet from seven constituencies where parliamentary elections are delayed until 14 November due to election irregularities. Currently, Rwanda where women occupy 56.3% of 80 seats in the Rwandan Chamber of Deputies (lower house) Á is the only African country that met the African Union's 50% target.Though women's numerical representation in the Tanzanian parliament is far short of the 50% target set by the African Union, Tanzania sets itself apart from *

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