By Lake Zone Watch Writer
During the commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on 6th February 2024, the government quoted the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) of 2022/2023 as showing that Mara is among regions in the country where the practice is still prevalent.
Having slightly dropped from 32 % to 28 %, Mara Region comes behind Manyara, Arusha, Singida and Dodoma whose prevalence is still very high, according to the TDHS.
Today, as the world marks Women’s International Day, advocating gender equality and dignity to women, it is also worth revisiting the current situation in Mara.
The main concern is whether those in the front line, including NGOs and even international organizations offering support, are still enthusiastic about their crusade or have lost resilience after many years of activism.
While anti-FGM activities have seemingly slowed down, the general assumption could as well be that members of communities, particularly traditional leaders, parents, the elderly and the ngaribas are now well informed about the damage this practice has on women, thus the less the need to go on with the battle.
However, as long as the cultural norms that protected this vice still thrive, especially in the remote areas of the region, we can be sure the war is far from being won. The TDHS report above drives this point home.
FGM is one of the worst forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV), being practiced by communities whose customs and beliefs treat girls as ineligible for any significant social duty, including marriage, unless they are circumcised.
Shrouded in such cultural practice, girls cannot determine their own future, accomplish educational dreams or have a say in their communities. As long as they have not been cut, they are considered to be children regardless their age.
Girls who have been forced to undergo this ritual have had rough experiences. While some had to endure the painful exercise and watch while they bled excessively, others fled their homes, sometimes at night and sought refuge at safe homes to avoid being subjected to FGM. Yet others have been left with scars of that unforgettable trauma.
Though FGM has been described many times as cruelty to girl children, on the other hand, it portends joy and happiness to those who support it. The Kurya tribe for example, would celebrate FGM activities just as they would do at a wedding ceremony.
The practice is deeply entrenched in customs and beliefs, not easy to uproot within a short period of time. Sometimes it is manifested in taboos, including such notion as, if the year is divisible by two, then it is mostly favourable for FGM. That belief does not spare this year 2024!
We don’t know what is happening in the remote areas of Mara region, because obviously law enforcement may be out of sight. However, we do hope that anti-FGM campaigners will not wait for the worst to happen, then make hurried decisions of interventions.
At this point in time when Tanzania is gearing for local government elections and the general election, the public is eager to see what will be top on the agenda of those wishing to be elected.
As advocates of women’s rights and dignity, we believe that anti-FGM campaigning will also be given prominence by the candidates . In the meantime , the struggle to free women from all acts of GBV, continues.