Work on women bank set up almost over

The government has underlined the need for establishing a special bank that would cater for women in the country.

Marking the Mothers` Day in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Margaret Sitta, said the government was in the final stages to ensure that all requirements for establishing the bank are fulfilled.

``The bank will help to empower women to get soft loans so that they can run their business which will help them to generate income,`` he said.

``The government is finalising the procedures for the establishment of the bank some of which had been completed including registration,`` said Sitta in a speech read on her behalf by the ministry`s Permanent Secretary, Mariam Mwafisi.

She said women development policy among other things provide guidelines on how to reduce the work burden for women in order to allow them fulfill their economic and social responsibilities.

``By recognising women`s contribution in the country\'s development the government has set up priorities to empower women economically,`` she said.

Vodacom Tanzania Customer Care managing executive Irene Madeje said women should struggle to contribute to the country\'s economic development.

She said Tanzanian women were struggling hard to improve their living standards at family level as well as playing a great role in building the national economy.

``We have seen and evidenced the changing role of women as we are now empowering ourselves to take a front and more transparent leadership position in contributing to the
development and success of our communities,`` she noted.

For her part, Special Seats legislator Dr Gertrude Rwakatare, congratulating mothers, the urged them to believe in God and not to give up because they needed strength to take care of their families.

Mother\'s Day celebrations were sponsored by Vodacom Tanzania Ltd.

* SOURCE: Guardian