Sauti Ya Siti Magazine
c/o Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA)
PO Box 8981, Mkunguni Street, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Dear Madam or Sir:
I learned of your publication through a story about Ms. Agnes Mbuyamajuu. She reportedly went to police after being beaten by her husband and was asked for money in order to “transport” the suspect. The fact that she is now speaking out about the police corruption she encountered and the lack of assistance available for women in her situation will, I hope, help to create a climate in which women will receive swifter justice in the future.
Much of the news that reaches the U.S. about the women of Africa focuses on the victims of rape and other acts of violence in the context of war. Whether a result of domestic violence or a broader conflict, attacks on women seem to be almost commonplace. But as Natalie Bennett writes in the Guardian, these women are not victims due to their own weakness. A huge obstacle in preventing this violence and obtaining justice is deeply rooted in the culture.
This is not to say that municipalities in Africa are more susceptible to corruption than anywhere else. I believe that globally we are slow to bridge a perceived cultural divide between African nations and Western nations. As more stories come out like Ms. Mbuyamajuu’s, of women who are claiming their own agency and fighting a personal battle that is familiar to women in every nation, we may experience increased awareness of the true experience of women in Africa.
I am curious as to whether this particular woman’s case is evidence that women are generally finding more opportunities to stand up for themselves and try to effect change. I am glad to see that there are apparently many organizations in Tanzania devoted to advocating for women. Your publication reportedly might run a special issue on the various forms of violence against women. I hope that with the wide network of which you are a part, women indeed take advantage of and have access to these resources.
Truly,
Liz Mann
