By Lake Zone Watch Writer
North Mara Gold Mine in collaboration with the Tarime District Council and the Police Force yesterday launched the annual international campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV).
The launch ceremony, which also involved other stakeholders, was graced by Tarime District Commissioner, Maj. Edward Flowin Gowele, at Nyamongo Secondary School.
Maj Gowele used the occasion to appeal to Tarime residents to take a leading role in enhancing the campaign to fight such outdated traditions as female genital mutilation (FGM) and violence against women which are said to be rampant in the district.
“This campaign should be for everybody not just for a select institution or certain company. It needs joint efforts and cooperation. Everyone should treat the problem as a community obstacle to development,” he said.
He also appealed to traditional leaders and women circumcisers to stop supporting the FGM culture, warning that state organs would take harsh measures against perpetrators of the crime.
Speaking at the same occasion, North Mara Gold Mine General Manager, Mr Apolinary Lyambiko, said his company was part of the community, and, therefore, it was its key responsibility to cooperate with other stakeholders in ending the scourge of GBV as it was against human rights.
“On our part, we at North Mara Gold Mine, have the responsibility of respecting norms and ideals of people where we’re engaged in mining activities. However, on the other hand, we have the responsibility of respecting human rights,” Mr Lyambiko explained.
He said his company understands the importance of cooperating with other stakeholders in educating the community on the dangers of FGM and strengthening joint efforts in building a community that respects human rights, particularly the rights of the girl child.
“Through the Friends of North Mara Programme, we have reached out to 800 students on the various challenges facing the community with regard to respect of human rights and the rule of law,” Mr Lyambiko told his audience.
“Through this programme we’ve reached out to 300 women in villages surrounding our mine to educate them on our principles of respecting human rights. It is our hope that they will continue to be our good ambassadors in fighting criminal acts, violence and breach of peace in the community.”
Mr Lyambiko said his company carries a broad definition of human rights, encompassing improvement of community welfare. Since 2020 until now, the mine has invested in 253 projects worth Tsh 22 billion in its Community Social Responsibility role.
A senior police officer in-charge of public welfare at the Tarime-Rorya special zone, ACP Jumanne Mkwama, urged traditional leaders to desist from delivering judgements of cases involving gender issues, and instead they should cooperate with state law enforcement agencies to fight acts of violation of human rights.
During the 16 days of activism against GBV, various stakeholders will hold discussions and meetings to educate the public on the dangers of the social disease, among other topics.
Apart from the presence of representatives from the Tarime District Council and the North Mara Gold Mine, other participants who attended the event were drawn from the police force, traditional leaders, circumcisers locally known as ng’ariba, non-governmental organisations such as ATFGM Masanga, Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania , VSO and a team of lawyers from Bowmans.