Scores of men in Same district, Kilimanjaro region are reported to have abandoned their families; leaving children, their wives and other dependants to fend for themselves, it has been revealed.
The problem is more acute in Makanya ward where the abandoned children do not go to school and lack proper accommodation with few sympathizers coming forward to assist.
A survey conducted by a Moshi-based non-governmental organization called KWIECO said lack of knowledge on child and family rights as well as legal aid from sympathizers has exacerbated the situation.
A resident of the area Esther Mshana said many children from the poor families have been forced out of schools for lack of fees, food, clothes and basic school needs like pens and exercise books.
"Men have simply melted away and abandoned their
families. It is high time for the government to intervene and find ways
to assist those in need", she pleaded.
Another resident Lazaro Elifadhili claimed that some men have turned to taking drugs such as marijuana, khat and alcoholic spirits, with little time to attend the needs of their respective families.
He called on the government law enforcement agencies to intervene urgently to save the nation of its badly needed work force now turned into zoombies due to excessive alcohol and drug addiction.
"If no measure is taken, we will end up with no educated, skilled and good mannered people who will take our country to the next level", the villager explained.
The chair of gender desk in Same Ms Dora Bunging'o said cases of men abandoning their families in the district kept increasing and that there was a poor follow-up of cases filed in courts.
She said many of the cases filed in courts on abandoned children and women are discontinued for lack of evidence.
"The challenge is that once filed, nobody is following up the cases until their conclusive end. Many are discontinued for lack of evidence", she pointed out. No figures of abandoned children or discontinued cases were given.
Ms Bunging'o added that there was lack of awareness on family rights and gender-based violence among many people and that information on the plight of abandoned children and women is normally received from the concerned neighbours.
"Once we establish some truth, we file a case in the nearest court but as has always been the case, there has not been sufficient evidence", she remarked.
Speaking on gender violence, the official said many women and children are sexually abused but the victims are afraid to report to the police fearing reprisals from the culprits as well as bad image from the society as matters of sexual abuse are often not discussed in public.
A representative of KWIECO Morris Venance pleaded to the government and other stakeholders to step up public sensitization on legislation governing gender, children and sexual abuse and to support non-governmental organizations now spearheading the drive.
He said his NGO has pitched a camp in Makanya ward given the gravity of the situation. He added that they will try as much as possible to reach out the remote villagers in order to sensitize the public on gender and children rights.
As men abandon families in Same, women in Rombo district have marched for two kilometres in protest against local politicians behind the rising consumption of illicit spirit 'gongo'.
Another resident Lazaro Elifadhili claimed that some men have turned to taking drugs such as marijuana, khat and alcoholic spirits, with little time to attend the needs of their respective families.
He called on the government law enforcement agencies to intervene urgently to save the nation of its badly needed work force now turned into zoombies due to excessive alcohol and drug addiction.
"If no measure is taken, we will end up with no educated, skilled and good mannered people who will take our country to the next level", the villager explained.
The chair of gender desk in Same Ms Dora Bunging'o said cases of men abandoning their families in the district kept increasing and that there was a poor follow-up of cases filed in courts.
She said many of the cases filed in courts on abandoned children and women are discontinued for lack of evidence.
"The challenge is that once filed, nobody is following up the cases until their conclusive end. Many are discontinued for lack of evidence", she pointed out. No figures of abandoned children or discontinued cases were given.
Ms Bunging'o added that there was lack of awareness on family rights and gender-based violence among many people and that information on the plight of abandoned children and women is normally received from the concerned neighbours.
"Once we establish some truth, we file a case in the nearest court but as has always been the case, there has not been sufficient evidence", she remarked.
Speaking on gender violence, the official said many women and children are sexually abused but the victims are afraid to report to the police fearing reprisals from the culprits as well as bad image from the society as matters of sexual abuse are often not discussed in public.
A representative of KWIECO Morris Venance pleaded to the government and other stakeholders to step up public sensitization on legislation governing gender, children and sexual abuse and to support non-governmental organizations now spearheading the drive.
He said his NGO has pitched a camp in Makanya ward given the gravity of the situation. He added that they will try as much as possible to reach out the remote villagers in order to sensitize the public on gender and children rights.
As men abandon families in Same, women in Rombo district have marched for two kilometres in protest against local politicians behind the rising consumption of illicit spirit 'gongo'.
Reading the message before the district leaders, a
women representative Ms Clara Gwandu called on the relevant
authorities to act against politicians who support brewing and
consumption of illicit spirit.
They said they were in full support of efforts being made by the Rombo District Commissioner Mr. Limbris Ole Kipuyo to fight the consumption of the spirit, adding that the war against the prohibited alcoholic drink also known as 'piwa' and 'chang'aa' was being won.
CCM chairman in the district Wilbard Ringia has hailed measures being taken against production, sale and consumption of the illicit spirit in Rombo.
He said during a recent operation, some 178 brewing plants, 3,500 drums with raw materials used to make 'gongo', 550 litres of the illicit spirit and 108,000 industrial chemicals used in the production of the brew were seized.
Addressing the women, the DC warned the Rombo residents not to politicise the war against illicit spirit. He revealed that 58 suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court for their role in the illicit trade.
They said they were in full support of efforts being made by the Rombo District Commissioner Mr. Limbris Ole Kipuyo to fight the consumption of the spirit, adding that the war against the prohibited alcoholic drink also known as 'piwa' and 'chang'aa' was being won.
CCM chairman in the district Wilbard Ringia has hailed measures being taken against production, sale and consumption of the illicit spirit in Rombo.
He said during a recent operation, some 178 brewing plants, 3,500 drums with raw materials used to make 'gongo', 550 litres of the illicit spirit and 108,000 industrial chemicals used in the production of the brew were seized.
Addressing the women, the DC warned the Rombo residents not to politicise the war against illicit spirit. He revealed that 58 suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court for their role in the illicit trade.
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