A historic visit of the International Association for Popular Cooperation (IAPC) and GONDWANA to MVIWATA
In March, MVIWATA received and hosted a delegation from IAPC and GONDWANA. IAPC is an international non-profit association that facilitates cooperation, exchange and solidarity among peoples. IAPC promotes education and training, technological development, technical support, research and other methodologies to improve the capacity oof urban and rural systems and facilitate the access of human communities to financial resources for locally managed projects aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting food sovereignty and enhancing socio-environmental equality.
The meeting to MVIWATA was a continuation of the efforts of joining the masses from the Global south for a common goal. MVIWATA and IAPC have been working together on common actions in Agriculture and especially on bio-inputs.
The 5 day visit program, which started in Morogoro at MVIWATA Headquarters ended with a visit to a coffee producing network in Hai District, Kilimanjaro region, TACRI offices as well as the government offices in Hai.
On Wednesday 6th March 2024, we were honored to be visited by the delegation of the Turkish Agency for Development and Cooperation (Tika), headed by the Country Director, Mrs. Filliz. The delegation and MVIWATA management held discussions on how to foster cooperation between the Turkish people and the peasants of Tanzania, through technology, knowledge and skills programmes.
The delegation visited MVIWATA headquarters and the agroecology shop at the agricultural show grounds in Morogoro.
The meeting also discussed briefly on the plight of the Palestinian people where at least 30,000 Palestianians, including unarmed women, old men and children have been masacred in the ongoing genocide carried out by Israel army and mutually agreed that what happens in Palestine is morally, legally and by any human standards unacceptable.
In December 2023, MVIWATA in a continuation of world righteous efforts in denouncing the genocide, released a statement during its 30th anniversary. You can read the statement below
MVIWATA officially launches a 5 year Food System Supply Services in Rural Tanzania, designed to facilitate small-holder farmers’ access to economic justice.
In his remarks, MVIWATA Executive Director, Stephen Ruvuga reminded the participants on the role of peasant agriculture in Tanzania’s social, economic and political spheres. He reiterated the role of horticulture in the food system and in the economy. This fact, he further noted, has been there before independence and even after Independence, amid the reality that, our economies have been designed to also serve as the source of raw materials and food produces for other countries.
Baridi Sokoni (a swahili name for the Food System Supply Services in Rural Tanzania) is a project that will be implemented in 3 regions of Morogoro, Njombe, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar to effect on production and productivity through #agroecology; marketing and fair prices through developing rural based enterprise operated by small-holder farmers as well as Institutional growth (of MVIWATA, peasant groups and networks).
The launching was officiated by Morogoro Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) who was represented by Dr Rozalia Rwegasira from Regional Secretariat as the Guest of Honour. Dr Rozalia applauded the great work that MVIWATA has been doing in MVIWATA with a number of flagship programs including the establishment of market infrastructures across the region and of uniting farmers through groups and networks. Dr. Rozalia commended also, the Baridi Sokoni program, which she added, the region sees as a great initiative towards agriculture and small-scale farmers livelihoods growth in the region.
In the course of implementation of this project, Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme will provide a grant of about 5.35 million USD, and African Development Bank will act as the supervising entity following the arrangement. MVIWATA will contribute US$ 250,000 as the local contribution to uplift the budget to US$ 5.6 million as the total budget for the programme.
At a time MVIWATA decided to dive into this approach, it knew that as an idea, having students around what are called clubs, formed for different purposes wasn’t a new thing; but one thing was for sure, that the existing model (on school clubs) featured largely on the global identified global (with students being recipient) agenda while little was being done on Agriculture.
The conception around forming and organizing students (in primary and secondary schools) through school clubs came, first, from a need of involving more youth into understanding agriculture and the associated struggles (from the peasantry class view) and second from the need of equipping youth with theoretical and practical knowledge on agroecological food production and environmental conservation.
Albeit the fact that these efforts were undertaken and yielded results in some areas previously, 2021 remains as a remarkable year that the process attained much attention in our networks. In Masasi-Mtwara, Shinyanga, Mara and Morogoro farmers embarked in a journey of visiting schools, establish agroecological learning plots and train students on practical agroecological skills, students in turn learnt making composts, producing food in small-scale for school meal programs, initiative that when some were asked, answered “we took the knowledge back home”.
From that moment it was clear that the approach that MVIWATA should use has to be shaped by school members and constantly directed towards understanding local situation, specific needs and designed to ensure maximum participation of students, equip and allow students to innovate and create along the process.
In 2021, when designing the new 2022-2026; MVIWATA members identified Gender Justice as one amongst the main strategic areas of MVIWATA, with Designing and Implementing a Youth programme as a priority activity for both youth in school and youth out of schools.
Up to the end of 2023, about 30 school clubs with more than 2000 students were established in Mara, Shinyanga, Njombe, Rukwa, Mtwara, Morogoro and Ruvuma regions from which students have been exchanging and debating on agroecological practices, preparing radio sessions on agroecology, establishing tree nurseries, producing food contributing to school feeding programs and integrating agroforestry as part of climate action.
Our school of attention in this story is Ninga Secondary school located in Njombe District of Njombe District from which the commemoration of the International Day of an African Child was organized by MVIWATA in 2023. The club engages in activities such as establishment of tree nurseries and production of seedlings, agroecological vegetable production, tree planting (both fruits and pole tree planting). The production activities of the club have managed to provide vegetables for the school meal plan on daily basis. In 2023 alone, the school club managed to produce more than 1000 tree seedlings.
Commemoration of the International Day of an African Child was organized by MVIWATA in 2023 at Ninga Secondary where about 250 students participated in the prepared activities including keynote presentations from a guest speaker, Mr. Muhemsi Mwakihwelo, General Secretary of the Tanzania Socialist Forum (TASOFO), students and MVIWATA members; dialogue which was concluded by deliberations as well as on-farm demonstrations of the production activities as an exchange with other invited students and farmers.
2023 was the 30th year since the birth of MVIWATA and its mission of uniting smallholder farmers’ for a common voice in defense of their rights.
Like in many other stories and processes, the history of MVIWATA has at is core the significant role of both women and men in the birth and the ongoing process of nurturing the dream, of uniting small-holder farmers in quest for their rights.
Historically, women in MVIWATA, from the early years formed part of the first missionaries of telling the tales that saw the formation of many groups and networks; from the early few groups coming from only 6 regions to the present network of farmers that has its presence in every region of Tanzania (both mainland and Zanzibar).
Perhaps it’s hard to articulate by words and figures, the great contribution that women small-holder farmers made in the construction of MVIWATA agenda and its execution, but it’s not very hard to account for the great contribution that women have (and are) still playing in organizing people into groups and networks and mobilizing them towards common action, which is the mission of MVIWATA.
It’s not hard to account for popular stories of the major and renowned political and even economical gains that few women have made so far since the world has embraced the “equality” agenda. However, it is very hard to account with certainty, on how the specific mainstreamed gains have translated to many women belonging to the working class.
Understanding the clear-cut line of women through class lenses has directed us to question not only on the role but rather on the needs, challenges that are attached to working class women and more precisely, peasant women from which peasant women form the centre of the analysis.
Apart from the many previously implemented actions, from 2018, MVIWATA embarked in a journey of understanding the changing context of peasant women struggles in line with the overall struggles of the peasantry class as whole.
The first, in early 2018, MVIWATA hosted a LVC-SEAf regional initiative aimed at understanding violence against women and Peasant Feminism from which a study was done to understand the type and levels of violence against peasant women, whose results highlighted a lot of similarities and difference of the nature of violence between peasant women to other women, and to even women from the same class- the working class. The findings of this study were compiled and presented in a study titled; PEASANT WOMEN ARE WOMEN (read below)
The study in a
way, shaped MVIWATA’s thinking and strategies towards ensuring gender justice, the
biggest being learning from the peasant women themselves. This process,
informed amongst many things that women, rural struggles, feminism, violence against
women and strategies to end them, can only be understood if peasant women, lead
the process of re-defining, giving meaning and formulating strategies of the
issues that confronts them collectively based on their own history and existing
context.
It was this reality that informed MVIWATA to massively engage in peasant feminism meetings, peasant feminism educational programs as well as campaign to end violence against women through a number of initiatives and activities as proposed and passed by MVIWATA members. And it was indeed from this process, that realities on peasant women struggles as well as violence against peasant women have gained meaning through both gender and class analysis.
In this particular article, we give an account of major events linked to Peasant Feminism that were organized and implemented by MVIWATA in 2023.
2023 International Women Day
The international women’s day in 2023 was organized in 28 different locations across Tanzania and attained the participation of more than 4,000 (70% rural women, 30% rural men) mainly small-holder farmers.
See the map representation of the local organized events by MVIWATA for the commemoration of the IWD in 2023
For the commemoration, Marches were organized in all 28 local networks through which women communicated the need to collectively work towards gender justice in their communities and demanding that quality social services, be provided to everyone without discrimination. To demonstrate this, Provision of free health screening services was done where, more than 300 women were screened for cervical cancer supported by rural public health care centers. The dialogues organized during this day of action saw a convergence of discussions and demands despite the difference in geographical locations; violence against peasant women and young girls, availability of social services where peasant women discussed on the expensive and unbearable price tags attached to different important services needed for their welfare and that of the society they live in, seed sovereignty as well as food sovereignty , all emerged as key areas of struggles amongst peasant women.
As much is needed to end violence which is born from the fruits of oppression, exploitation and suppression, women called for a common voice to speak against violence, in all its forms and accordingly report the issues openly and widely using both public-political and traditional spaces. In some places, the Gender desks of respective areas were invited to participate in the events. In Manyara for example, which is the leading region for gender-based violence in Tanzania, most of which go un-noticed, from March 2023, a total of 13 new cases of violence were reported as a result of the women voices raised during the 8th March at the same village.
Provision of free legal aid services during the commemoration events was also done where in total; 37 cases were reported of which; 5 cases were on gender-based violence, 14 Matrimonial Cases, 5 Probate Cases, 4 Childcare Cases, 1 Civil Case and 8 Land Cases.
MVIWATA Zonal Peasant Feminism encounter
One of its kind MVIWATA held the first ever zonal Peasant Feminism encounter having peasant women from Dodoma, Manyara, Tanga, Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. The events, hosted by MVIWATA Manyara network saw the participation of about 130 peasant women from the participating regions.
Campaign to end violence against peasant women
Organized around November yearly, 2023 campaign actions spearheaded actions (dialogues, trainings) to end violence against peasant women. Meetings, radio programs through MVIWATA Fm also saw men and women, peasant and non-peasant discussing on violence against peasant women and actions to end violence against peasant women. This campaign was winded up by the National level peasant women meeting that had discussions and deliberations of the women and young girls’ representatives to the MVIWATA’s 28th annual general meeting and 30th anniversary in Njombe, a gathering that had the participation of more than 1000 small-scale members of MVIWATA across Tanzania.
Part of the delegation to MVIWATA 28th AGM and 30th anniversary in December 2023, Njombe region
SOLIDARITY BEGINS WITH US – PEASANT WOMEN, MEN AND YOUTH
At the rich and fertile land of Njombe, Tanzania, about 1500 peasants have gathered from different corners of the land of Mwalimu Nyerere, to commemorate the 30 youthful years of their organization.
After the opening ceremony, which was graced by the presence of the Speaker of the United Republic of Tanzania and the premier [Regional Commissioner] of Njombe, MVIWATA convened three separate conventions/ assemblies – youths, women and men.
As
the youth assembly convened both male and female youths below 35 years; the
women and men assembly gathered the elderly men and women in their separate
forums. And the respective forums, even though hosted separately, ran
concurrently.
This
year’s conventions was however highlighted by the first ever men assembly, whereas
unlike their counterparts – youths and women – who had convened and had their
own assemblies in the previous years.
The
respective assemblies offered an optimum opportunity and platform to all the groups
and members of the organization, to air out their concerns and altogether
address the specific issues that resonate to their respective groups.
Post
the separate discussions, each group had the chance to present and share their
findings, issues and resolutions and thereafter there was an open discussion,
engaging and involving each group.
The
presentations and discussions were entirely enlightening and altogether
therapeutic, as the members had an incredible opportunity to actually be frank
and honest with each other.
Together
with condemning on the vices and trends and also commending on the good deeds
and traits, both groups expressed that they ought preach and act with love and
respect to each other.
Most importantly, the members agreed that there would not be any progress and development amongst and within them, if and when they remain to be in contestation and in dispute between and amongst each other. Indeed, what confronts them as a class is big and requires everyone’s effort.
Unequivocally and unanimously, the members of MVIWATA stated that, “SOLIDARITY BEGINS WITH US – THE PEASANT YOUTH, WOMEN AND MEN!”
The training and meeting gathering about 145 farmer leaders from 21st September to 23rd September ended with a call for strengthened networks for reclaiming farmers’ dignity and rights on land, seeds, life and more.
Participants to the MVIWATA zonal leadership & peasants rights meeting & training in a picture holding the Swahili translated UNDROP
This zonal meeting saw the participation of MVIWATA leaders, promoters from Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma and Mtwara region gathering for 3 days in Njombe region for a collective reflection on the state of farmers groups and networks as platforms for small-scale farmers’ fight for social, economic, political, environmental and cultural rights.
The 3 days session, gathering about 145 leaders, hosted by MVIWATA Njombe, took place inside MVIWATA Njombe office buildings located in Njombe town.
Through discussion, farmers using MVIWATA institutional frameworks and other tools such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas (UNDROP) analysed the present state of affairs of rural lives and peasantry in the context of Tanzania which indicated dire violations of peasants rights. Tanzania, is one of the signatories of the universal peasants rights declaration which was passed in 2018.
The zonal meeting was organized also as part of the actions towards the commemoration of MVIWATA 30 years from its establishment in 1993 which is set to happen in December 2023.
First agroecological market centre owned by MVIWATA opens in Morogoro operating to collect from the smallholder farmers members of MVIWATA the vast produced agroecological produces and distribute to the wider community.
Within MVIWATA, Marketing of farmers produces to ensure better prices and fair distribution has been at the core of many discussions and strategies even during the early years of MVIWATA. For years programs, initiatives have been undertaken to ensure that farmers gain an equitable share and what is healthily produced gets to the final users. Attaining that, for example, MVIWATA in early 2000’s engaged in a massive work of building rural territorial markets including the famous Kibaigwa International Grain Market, Igurusi Rice market and 8 others across Tanzania (in Morogoro, Rukwa, Tanga and Njombe regions), building rural infrastructures (roads, bridges), local irrigation schemes and warehouses to facilitate production and storage activities.
To link production and marketing, MVIWATA also facilitated the establishment of farmer owned financial institution and credit schemes including revolving fund. Also, some markets (especially those located in Morogoro) were equipped with Quality control center for handling horticultural products to ensure that fresh produces are well handled.
This same model developed by MVIWATA, of building territorial rural markets, and involving farmers in their operations was taken and implemented with success in other countries such as Niger (https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/-/project/1100001688), Guinea (https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/-/project/2000001059), Guinea Bissau (https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/-/project/2000001605), Turkey (https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/-/project/2000001409), Uganda (https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/-/project/1100001681) albeit the challenges that the same model faces in Tanzania.
Understanding the complexity of the Agricultural market question, that, it is contributed by many factors one being proper linkage between producers and consumers, which translates to accessibility, availability, proximity, quality and quantity of the produced and needed produces, MVIWATA in August 2023, has opened its own Agroecological market centre, first to provide a market outlet for agroecological produces and secondly to bring to consumers an option of procuring and consuming local, healthy and agroecologically produced farm and forest produces.
The centre exists to ensure consumer accessibility to agroecological products at a fair price for consumers and producers and targets to carter at the convinience of the consumer with vast services including walk-ins, online ordering and delivery services.
The market centre is located in Mwalimu Nyerere show grounds, Nane-Nane, Morogoro. Visiting the centre physically, you will also get a chance to see and learn agroecology directly from our small plot located within the same space.
Under the banner ‘Dilemmas of Humanity – Pan African Dialogues to Build Socialism’, the conference started from 17th July expected to end up on 20th July 2023 has gathered more than 200 delegates representing about 40 peoples’ movements and organisations throughout the African Continent including The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), Abahlali Basemjondolo (ABM), the Socialist Party of Zambia (SP), the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG), Workers’ Democratic Way from Morocco (WDW), Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) , Tanzania Socialist Forum (TASOFO), ZIMSOFF, Kenyan Peasants League (KPL) and many other trade unions, political parties, peasant organisations and social movements.
Key thematic areas and commissions for the conference include: Gender struggles to end patriarchy; Food sovereignty, agroecology and the defense of nature; Urban struggles for dignified housing; The demand for health, science and technology as a matter of dignity; Organising the workers, employed, unemployed, organised and unorganised; Building the future of our youth through quality education for liberation; Urban struggles for dignified Housing, The battle of ideas: art, culture, media and communication and Sovereignty and self-determination: security, militarization, national liberation.
Here are some media collections and updates on the conference;
The 2022 MVIWATA Annual General meeting (AGM) that took place on 17th and 18th November 2022 was attended by 519 (242 women, 277 men) delegates including MVIWATA members from Tanzania (both mainland and Zanzibar). The AGM also had the participation of other organizations and individuals affiliated to MVIWATA and the peasantry course at large.
The AGM was preceded by a workshop under the theme “The future of small-scale farmers in the context of Investment and Free market in Tanzania with Land rights, Farmer managed seed systems and Bilateral agreements as sub-topics” from which key-note speeches were given by Ms. Sabrina Masinjila, a researcher from The African Centre for Biodiversity; Mr. Sabatho Nyamsenda and Dr. Ng’wanza Kamata from the University of Dar-es-Salaam and followed by discussions and presentations from the farmers where issues on land security to smallholder farmers and seed sovereignty dominated the discussions.
Through the AGM also, a collection of local seeds from across various regions were exhibited and shared amongst the farmers.
The AGM and annual workshop in 2022, were also preceded by Annual National Youth and Women meetings which took place on 16th November 2022 where women and youth representatives from all networks met prior to the AGM.
MVIWATA participated in a solidarity meeting hosted by Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation with Hon. Yuri Moura, Venezuelan Vice Minister for Africa as the Guest of Honor. The meeting held on September had also the attendance of Honorable Ambassadors of Venezuela, Algeria, Palestine, Western Sahara and Cuba.
In March 2022, MVIWATA hosted a regional Peasant Feminism workshop where 72 (56 women, 16 men) participants from La Via Campesina member organizations which are MVIWATA (Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania), ESAFF- Uganda (Eastern and Southern small scale farmers forum in Uganda), KPL (Kenyan Peasants League), COPACO (Confederation Paysanne du Congo), UNAC (Uniao Nacional de Camponeses), ZIMSOFF (Zimbabwe smallholder organic farmers Forum), LPM (Landless People Movement), FSC (Food Sovereignty Campaign) and other social movements and political parties notably CPK (Communist Party of Kenya), SP- Zambia (Socialist party of Zambia), SMG (Socialist Movement of Ghana), Swaziland Rural Women Assembly participated brought in the process through Pan Africanism Today (PAT) participated. The workshop had also the participation of young female students from Kigurunyembe Secondary school, one of the schools that MVIWATA is training its students on agriculture through school clubs.
The diversity was rich from context, culture including language and for that we had the voluntarily valuable contribution of interpreters from the United States, France, Mozambique, Portugal, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania translating into Kiswahili, French, Portuguese, and English a process that facilitated communication and understanding among all participants. This process being very important to MVIWATA, LVC – SEAf region and the Gender sector of the Pan Africanism Today happened after a successful Peasant Feminism training and subsequent actions that MVIWATA and other LVC-SEAf members undertook from 2018 in relation to the Gender question and the ongoing interventions on Gender organized by the PAT secretariat.
The workshop was officially officiated by MVIWATA’s chairperson Mr. Apollo Chamwela who together with MVIWATA’s Executive Director Mr. Stephen Ruvuga joined the workshop with other participants (majority being young girls and women) to discuss and ponder on the present state of affairs of working women within the context of Africa and in productive sectors largely Agriculture and together we discussed, highlighted and strategized on common issues whereas women belonging to the working class identified as our issues, regardless of the different sectors and geographical locations we are coming from
Getting into the roots of our discussion was the presentation from Dr. Jackline Mgumia on a study -results that was commissioned by MVIWATA on behalf of the LVC- SEAf titled “Violence Against Women” where from the preliminary findings she presented that Peasant women face Violence first as Women belonging to the Working Class, second as Women just like any other women and thirdly as Peasants, and the preliminary findings were enough to direct the discussion in identifying what are our common issues as peasant women, as people belonging to the working class, as rural women and what violences do peasant women face, where do they converge and how do they affect the wider wellbeing of women and the society women live in.
The workshop tried to answer on one pertinent question on Feminism. Everyone is speaking of feminism, but what is feminism when it comes to us, as Peasant women? What does it imply in our context one being a feminist and more importantly on what are our struggles, who are our enemies and allies and how can we go forward with our struggles.
March, For Working women!
We took time to honor Bibi Titi and speak a bit about her and the likes of Bibi Titi, and the unsung revolutionaries in our history. Comrade Zikhona from the Pan Africanism Today took us through this session and we went as far as analyzing and discussing on the existing conjuncture and the position of women and all working people (politically, economically, environmentally, socially and culturally). At the end we agreed, should we take forward our Feminism agenda, we should take it with the question of liberating our people, of making sure the existing system is dismantled and our societies uphold the values of togetherness, revolutionary love and liberation of all mankind.
International Women’s Day Celebrations
From the workshop, the delegation travelled from to Mtwara, for the celebration of the International Working Women’s Day hosted by MVIWATA’s District network in Masasi. Masasi network in MVIWATA is recognized for its agroecology collective learning initiative that started at district level and spread over to all local networks with members learning, experimenting and practicing various agroecological practices (see AGROECOLOGY FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY CAMPAIGN | MVIWATA)
A total of 471 participants (328 women, 143 men) including smallholder farmers members’ of MVIWATA and non-MVIWATA members in Masasi District, students from Nangoo primary and secondary school, MVIWATA members from the neighboring districts of Liwale, Kilwa and Newala, participated in the event taht was prepared by the district network
The event also featured 25 guests from eleven countries including North and East Africa from Kenya (Kenyan Peasants League – KPL and Communist Party of Kenya – CPK), Uganda (Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum – ESAFF Uganda), DR Congo (Coalition Paysanne de Congo – COPACO), Mozambique (Uniao Nacional de Camponeses – UNAC), Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Forum – ZIMSOFF), South Africa (Pan Africanism Today – PAT, Landless Peoples Movement – LPM and Agrarian Reform for Food Sovereign – FSC), Zambia (Socialist Party of Zambia, Ghana (Socialist Movement of Ghana) and Eswatini (Rural Women Assembly).
There were also interpreters from the United States, France, Mozambique, Portugal, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania translating into Kiswahili, French, Portuguese, and English. The Guest of Honor for the event was Masasi District Commissioner, Claudia Kitta and the event was marked by peaceful demonstrations, local seed exhibition, local dances, speeches and celebration
Demonstrations during the commemoration of 8th March in Masasi District
Stephen Ruvuga, MVIWATA’s Executive Director welcomed the guests from which the aforementioned activities took place. Speeches, Poems, Statements were read but importantly was the African way that the event methodology took. Comrade Zikhona Kunene a representative of Pan-Africanism Today (PAT) delivered a message at the celebration of International Women’s Day
we are here for the continuation of what Bibi Titi Mohamed a renowned Tanzanian feminist and pioneer of women participation in the struggle for independence in Tanganyika who also supported the first president of Tanzania Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Titi and her colleagues left behind.
“We are here because Africa is a rich continent, but its people are still poor, we are here because women do not value themselves because of their sex and color of their skin, we are here because 62% of women are producers but still the poorest, we are here to tell them that only two women in Africa are leaders of the country”. Zikhona said, as the crowd applauded and shouts in support of her message.
“We are here to tell African women that they are very beautiful and attractive in their color, we are here to tell them that no other women will commit suicide again because of sexual violence, we are here to tell men to support us in our struggle because they are not our enemies, but our enemies are the oppressive system that exists”.
8th March Celebrations in our other Networks!
In the same spirit, of giving a platform for rural women to celebrate, reflect on their struggles and achievements, MVIWATA networks commemorated the International Women’s Day in 16 networks of (Masasi District – Mtwara region), (Songea District – Ruvuma region); (Ndole-Mvomero District, Itete- Malinyi District, Mngeta – Mlimba District, Msowero – Kilosa District all in Morogoro region); (Hai District- Kilimanjaro region); (Mbogwe District – Geita region); (Shinyanga rural District – Shinyanga region); (Mufindi District – Iringa region); (Mbarali District – Mbeya region); (Kiteto District – Manyara region); (Kongwa District and Mpwapwa District – Dodoma region); (Njombe District and Ludewa District – Njombe region) which joined together 2,917 ( 2,319 women, 598 men) rural producers among them 492 were rural youth and 611 ( 403 females, 208 males) students from Primary and Secondary schools in relevant villages were the events took place.
The events also provided a platform for rural women including to access Free Legal Aid and Screening for cervical cancer, services which were organized by MVIWATA
Some pictures of MVIWATA members from different networks during the commemoration of 8th March
