Downtrodden motherhood, little prospects of economic freedom
Mother – a truly magical word that have made poets of all ages go gaga. Our
mothers bear us in blood, sweat, and tears. For our fathers, we come from
the pleasure of sex and no physical pain for them afterwards – supporting
the expectant mother is an option. A man can always run away from fatherhood
unlike a woman.
In the spirit of copying the western world culture, last week many urban
Tanzanians celebrated Mothers’ Day. A noble venture from the onset but is it
for real? Flowers galore, a million thank you notes and myriad gifts for
mama in the name of gratitude
To me apart from the feel good factor I read a lot of hypocrisy in the
celebration. The state of our mothers especially in the rural villages is
nothing to talk home about. That fate is intertwined with the misery of
girl-child, where opportunities are slammed in the face for one being born a
female.
If Tanzanians cared so much about mothers (both in rural and urban areas) we
would be miles ahead in development. But look at the vicious cycle of
poverty where women and children are most vulnerable. This is despite the
African mother multitasking every day to make ends meet.
Only this week International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it was revising
economic growth forecast for Tanzania to 7 percent. Even if the growth
reaches 15 percent in the current setting, the fortunate of our mothers most
likely will not change from the suffering lot, to something better.
To develop, it is high time we started looking at motherhood with the
dignity it deserves. As I said last week investing in women is investing in
the whole society. For the nation at large to move forward we need to change
our outlook on what it constitutes to be a homemaker- taking care of the
next generation, feeding the nation and bearing the brunt of poverty.
The government, IMF, World Bank and other development partners can talk
development forever, but real development will only come if there is a
conducive-business environment for women at the family level to be involved
in futuristic money making ventures.
Looking at a typical average mother- life is a struggle of bringing up
children while staggering in want. Despite the threat of death, every time
she gives birth, she has to rise up and continue to fight for better
economic well being for her family.
The government, feminist movement and development partners claim to have
done a lot in fighting habits and practices that keep the mother
downtrodden. Actually, the authorities will tell you that child mortality
rates are down. But the reality is another song. In Tanzania, my beloved
country, if one is poor and have to give birth in public hospital the
chances of death are as real as day break.
Recent statistics indicate about 34 mothers lose their lives every single
day while 140 children die at delivery. The said dead at least are lucky for
they see the doors of hospitals. I am sure never-recorded deaths are much
more, especially in villages where health facilities are Greek.
Is the government or the community to blame for the sorry plight of
motherhood? The complacency in the society, where preventable deaths is
turned into the will of creator (God) plays a big role in compounding the
problem. I don’t have a wholesale solution to the crisis, what I am sure is
enough is not being done to redress the crisis.
President Jakaya Kikwete recently said, training of more midwives would be
done so that they can save more lives of mothers and children. How I wish
we could attain the 5th and 6th Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – reduce
child mortality and improve maternal health by 2015 respectively. If only
wishes were horse….. Next week.
Saumu Jumanne is an Assistant Lecturer, Dar es Salaam University College of
Education (DUCE)