The regional commissioner of Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam city Paul Makonda has announced his intention to petition Tanzania’s Parliament to introduce a controversial bill.
The bill seeks to have 40 per cent of men’s monthly salaries deducted and credited to their wives’ bank accounts.
Makonda does not want women to be frustrated due to lack of money.
Local media reported that Makonda made the pledge in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam on Sunday, March 8, during the International Women’s Day celebrations.
He is quoted as saying that “I will petition the National Assembly to introduce a law that will see 40 per cent of salaries of men in formal employment deducted and credited to the bank accounts of their spouses who are housewives.”
The senior government official also said that there is the need for stringent laws that compel men to indicate on their Wills that their wives would be the sole custodians of their (men’s) property should they (men) die before their spouses.
Makonda’s resolve is to solve a problem of widows camping at his office seeking his intervention after losing their inheritance upon the deaths of their husbands.
Outrage over plans
But Makonda’s proposal has sparked outrage among Tanzanians. On social media some expressed their displeasure.
when i say no need for this thing called women rep they will abuse me …….but thats reality
— kelvin mkubwa (@kkioko010) March 10, 2020
What about the wives with salaries? Mind you some wives earn more than their husbands
— Geoffrey (@Geoffre28865450) March 10, 2020
That’s shit I won’t marry so where will you credit my 40%???
— Felix (@CheranFelix) March 10, 2020
This is good because right now we give 101% of our salaries.
— Olare Nixon (@NixonOlare) March 10, 2020
This gvt official needs to understand that not everyone has impared judgement, it’s not everyone who’s irresponsible and cannot take care of their families, plus women have jobs as well.
— Kahindi™ (@kahindi_wilson) March 10, 2020
Controversial proposals
The government official is reported by K24tv to have sparked in August last year an online debate after revealing plans to publish the identities of all married men in Tanzania on a website.
He hoped that would stop deceitful married men from sexually preying on unsuspecting single women, according to the media outlets reporting.
Makonda said the proposal, if adopted, would save many young women in Dar es Salaam from “unnecessary heartbreaks”.
“I have received a lot of complaints from young women. Many women from Dar es Salaam region have been deceived many times, and they have had enough. Men have been promising to marry them, then later, they [men] ditch the ladies. This is something that is humiliating,” Makonda said at the time.
The regional commissioner is well known for his efforts at empowering women. He recently, introduced a telephone contact so depressed women can call to seek help from his office.
Source: Africafeeds.com
