Political Parties Act as a Stumbling Block to Women’s Political Leadership in Tanzania

Abstract

Abstract The international, regional and subregional conventions that Tanzania has ratified call for State Parties to regulate the functioning of political parties to, inter alia, promote the full participation of women in political leadership and in decision-making processes. The reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992 witnessed the enactment of the 1992 Political Parties Act to govern the registration and management of political parties. The Political Parties Act scarcely contained any specific provisions for advancement of women’s political leadership in political parties. The Act was amended in 2019 through the Political Parties Amendment Act (PPAA). While the PPAA requires political parties to adhere to the principles of gender and social inclusion in the nomination of its candidates, elections of its leaders and in the design of its policy documents, the provision is vague, non-binding, and hard to enforce. This article analyses the Political Parties Act of 1992, and its 2019 Amendment. It depicts legal gaps that negatively affect how women become party leaders, candidates, and benefit from parties’ resources and capacity building opportunities. The article makes recommendations to improve legal protection for the advancement of women’s access to political leadership.