Anna Mghwira: Tanzania’s sole female presidential candidate

“True leaders are born, not made,” is a statement that rightly applies to none other than Anna Elisha Mghwira, who is the only female presidential candidate during the forthcoming general election. As if that is not enough, she is also the chairperson of the country’s youngest but promising political party, ACT Wazalendo.

It is, therefore, not surprising that she is where she is today because leadership runs in her blood veins as her father was a councilor and a leader within Tanu before CCM was formed in 1985.

Born on January 23, 1959 at Singida Regional Hospital, Mungumaji Ward – Irao Suburb in Singida-Urban Municipality, Mghwira remembers that she showed leadership traits during her youthful days to such an extent that she held various leadership positions at school, church and in the community.

Speaking to Woman Magazine in an exclusive interview at her offices in Dar es Salaam recently, Mghwira said, “I am very political. Actually, I have been in underground politics for a long time. Since the introduction of multi-party system, I found a niche with opposition political parties and the way they looked at society.

Actually, I am also an activist and activists with opposition political parties do not differ much. So, being an activist, a lawyer and theologian you become a political animal. And, it only depends on when you want to appear on stage or be on the backstage. I have been on the backstage for a long time.” She said that she has passion with what she does and can fit in all circumstances.

“If I go to the village I become a village woman and when I come to the city I fit easily. I think that is one of the advantages that I have as a person, to be able to cope with different situations and levels of education. I don’t give much attention on level of affluence. Yes, it is important because you will need to know what to do and what to say when you meet the affluent and the same goes to those who are not,” she said. Asked on challenges she faces as a female politician, Mghwira said that as a woman there is always a question, why and how and many other questions.

“It’s like people don’t believe that a woman can take politics seriously despite the fact that in Tanzania we have had a lot of women who have held high positions such as ministers, RCs and other areas of leadership including the private sector and women in business. That is leadership where you deal with people and commodities at the same time.

With all these female leaders we still ask why a woman? I don’t understand where that question comes from, but it is there,” she said adding that only the presidency and Prime Minister haven’t been filled by a female leader in the country. “The other question posed for female politicians is how will you make it? And, I have to ask, how do others make it?

What is it that men do in leadership that a woman cannot do? . . . If we have women pilots, engineers etc, those are more difficult tasks than being a leader because mothers are leaders all over. Whether they have given birth or not, they are natural leaders,” she added. She went on to say that people who know her closely, think that she delayed herself in showing up and joining the game and from the time she became the chair of the party, she has had a few challenges here and there but are nothing to worry about.

“It’s six months after I assumed the chair and it has not changed me. So, I am giving myself another six months to see if there are any changes especially after the presidential race. But, so far, up to now, I am still the same person, the activist. … If you are in the opposition, there is a tendency of seeing negativity from all corners of the ruling party from all aspects. That is not natural, people have some positives even in their weakest point.”

Asked whether the country was ready for a female president Mghwira had this to say, “I think the country is ready for a female president because there are many women coming up in elected positions. I think we are ready. Women are ready, men are ready.

And, I am getting feedback from all corners of the country and I have never had a serious challenge as to me being a woman.” Mghwira went on to advise women not hesitate to become politicians if they believe they have a calling to be a leader. “Politics in this country is viewed negatively, to connote people who are not reliable, people who lie and who maneuver and we talk of dirty politics.

Politics does not necessarily have to be dirty, and when I decided to become a politician, I thought my experience of working with people, women, children, young people and professional associations was enough to shape my conduct in politics. Politics don’t have to be dirty though there are dirty tricks. To me it’s just a game,” she said. “Women should not hesitate to venture into politics. Many male politicians join politics for personal reasons than it being a call to serve people.

So, it should emanate from the inner person, and it is shown by how you conduct yourself, you carry the message and how you come up with solutions.” When it comes to her party Mghwira said it was growing slowly but steadily and soon after ACT’s general election in March, they visited regions to introduce themselves and that’s where the party started to gain momentum. “. . .

At that time we did not expect many people to join us, but it happened as a big surprise that we had a big membership. We found many people willing to stand for various positions and people have been asking on social media that how come such a small party has managed to have many candidates vying for various positions countrywide in such a short time.

She said that university students helped a lot in the growth of the party because they come from many regions. “If you talk to students for example at Dodoma University, you might think that you are talking to a small group but they come from all over the country and when we were speaking to those in their final year, we were speaking to those who were about to graduate and when they finished they went to their areas of origin and spread the message of the party. “I think people are moved by the ujamaa ideology and the social nature of a human being and the way we want to create unity.

That probably brings people to our party. We have had a lot of following, we struggled in the beginning but in every meeting we had new members ranging from 500 to thousands in one event. In the beginning, we had people willing to stand for the party in all constituencies for parliamentary seats, but as we went on screening, some screened themselves and some dropped and we remained with 226 and eventually we finalized at 219.

The party is spread throughout the country and even in Zanzibar we have a good following there as well.” She said the main challenge in this part of the growth, is that the economy of the party compared to the growth, they are not matching. And, on helping aspirants standing for various posts, as a party they are struggling a bit on that part, but the growth rate is high. Mghwira said that she supports Ukawa as a coalition for constitutional review process but not as a political coalition.

“I think Ukawa is now showing its true colours with what happened when NCCR Mageuzi Vice chairperson questioned their Ukawa involvement and what happened with Dr Slaa and Professor Lipumba.

These series of events show that there was no consensus on a number of key areas that needed to be looked at in the way they came to the point of agreeing to come up with the candidate for presidency and who that should be. “Ukawa as a coalition for the constitution review, we support it. It’s something we would want to be part of, even after this election,” she added.

Mghwira said that they tried to develop a short but very concise manifesto that puts in four focus areas for the coming five years. “Priority number one is to establish a participatory economy where citizens will participate in economic reforms. Where we think the process will create more jobs. The other priority is on social welfare system, education, health.

I would think that if we establish a sound economy that provides jobs then people can make savings and can establish social security funds and use them as local investment capital, where small and medium income business people can borrow and pay back with marginal interests.” “If I win, women are the majority any government coming into power should have very clear understanding of what women want and need. We have adopted manifesto for women.

The party has adopted various priorities from manifestos of CSOs and other NGOs dealing with women issues on what should be addressed for women,” she said, adding that the one major role is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Gender and Community Development because that should be the heart of community work.

That’s where we have all different groups and sections of the society, we have women, youth, disabled children and students, farmers, etc; everybody falls under that category. For a long time this ministry has been disregarded.

Asked on how she balances family and politics Mghwira said that she has always been a leader and if one is a head of a department, director, advisor and so on, you are a leader.

So, since her children are now grown up and she is a widow, she don’t have much of a problem. “That makes my life different, not easier. I am not directly responsible for my children’s day to day lives, they are all grownups and taking care of themselves. We meet periodically, and that is planned. As a leader, you need to have a planned and organised life.

If you fail to be organised then you are likely to disorganize everybody,” she said. Mghwira ended by calling upon all Tanzanians to support her and the party though the elections seem to be turning a three-horse race. Who is Anna Mghwira Anna Mghwira is the national chairperson of ACT – Wazalendo while at the same time is the party’s flag bearer in next month’s presidential race.

Having turned 56 years old in January this year, Mghwira enrolled for her primary education in 1968 and finished in 1974, at Nyerere Road Primary School, before continuing with Secondary Education at Ihanja Technical School from 1975 to 1978. Having passed with flying colours, she joined Lutheran Junior Seminary in 1979 to 1981 for her Advanced Level education.

Mghwira got married to Shedrack Maghwiya in 1982 (who is now late) and were blessed with three boys Fadjhili, Peter and Elisha. It is the same year she joined Tumaini University and studied towards a bachelor’s degree in Theology and graduated in 1986. After her graduation, she immediately joined the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) for a degree in law.

It was at that moment that between 1987 and 1998 she served the nation by working in and outside the country, where she gained ample experience. Mghwira went to United Kingdom (UK) and pursued a Master’s degree in Law (LLM) in 1999 at the University of Essex and graduated in 2000 and that was the end of her education journey.

Besides being a lawyer and a theologian, she embarked on development work for a long time and has gained experience in the operation of local government, international organizations, religious institutions attached issues involving women, children, refugees, administrative and human rights. She has a long history of interest in politics, society and development and this has been revealed in various articles in magazines and newspapers.

Besides being born a politician, Mghwira joined politics as a member of Tanu Youth League, with her participation she managed to win numerous awards, but, after the birth of CCM her involvement became minimal as she spent much of her time into studies and marriage life and up bring children.

Having been in the backstage for a longtime, in 2009 she joined Chadema and managed to hold various positions such as the Chairperson of the Women’s Council at district level and Secretary of the Council at regional level. She officially joined ACT – Wazalendo in March this year and was elected the party’s chairperson in the first general assembly.