Tanzania: men abandon wives who voted in elections
Activists warn that nearly 50 women have been divorced in Zanzibar in a 'significant threat to democracy'
Dozens of women in Zanzibar have been divorced or abandoned by their husbands after voting in Tanzania's recent elections.
Activists from the Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (Zafela) and Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa) also confirmed that some women had not taken part in the poll due to threats from their husbands.
Mzuri Issa, the coordinator of Tamwa in the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago, said 47 women were divorced after not following their husband's wishes, Reuters reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The women cast their ballots in the general election in October, in which the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party faced it first serious electoral challenge in decades.
Many of the women who were abandoned said they had voted for the incumbent party, while their husbands had favoured the opposition coalition known as Ukawa.
"I thought it was just normal and free in a democracy to differ in politics," one woman told the Tanzanian Daily News. "But unfortunately, my husband was adamant to the end and decided to divorce me. He has even decided not to bring basic needs to our young children."
Zafela's Saada Salum Issa has warned that the divorces were "really affecting democracy in the island as women's free choice is being compromised by their spouses' dictation."
However, there is very little the women are able to do to challenge the men's actions in Zanzibar, where 99 per cent of the population is Muslim, reports the BBC's Aboubakar Famou.
The nationwide elections were declared largely free and fair on the Tanzanian mainland, but voting was suspended in Zanzibar, which has its own president and parliament, due to outbreaks of violence and "gross violations".
A fresh presidential vote is due to be held in January or February next year.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How green onions could swing South Korea's election
The Explainer Country's president has fallen foul of the oldest trick in the campaign book, not knowing the price of groceries
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's battle to save Kharkiv from Putin's drones
The Explainer Country's second-largest city has been under almost daily attacks since February amid claims Russia wants to make it uninhabitable
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
India elections 2024: the logistics of world's biggest vote
The Explainer More than 10% of the world's population is registered for a historic democratic exercise, with PM Modi likely to dominate again
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Erdogan set back in key regional elections
Speed Read The main opposition party flipped or held Turkey's biggest cities, including Istanbul
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published