The Plight of Pastoralist Women in Rural Tanzania—Breaking Barriers, Seeking Justice

By Adonis Byemelwa

Arusha----Standing amidst a dozen Indigenous women at a gender equality workshop in Ngorongoro District, Tanzania, Ms. Neema Manana’s frustration is palpable.

At just 19 years of age, the young mother of two from Sale Village carries an invisible weight that grows heavier with each passing day. Her eyes, once bright with youthful ambition, now reflect sorrow and desperation.

Abandoned by her husband, who left in search of employment in an urban center, she finds herself trapped in a harrowing web of responsibilities—both physical and emotional—that threatens to unravel her spirit.

Behind the closed doors of her grass-thatched shelter, every creak and whisper echoes her silent cries for help, cries that remain unheard by a society that has grown accustomed to ignoring the struggles of women like Ms. Manana.

Traveling from Arusha through Monduli and Longido to Ngorongoro reveals a pervasive isolation many young wives face. This journey uncovers a vast landscape of private anguish—a generation of women ensnared in a novel form of matrimonial bondage.

These women are left behind, both literally and figuratively, as their spouses venture into urban centers seeking opportunities that rarely trickle back to their families.

This has created a silent epidemic of loneliness and despair, where the open plains mask the hidden tribulations of those navigating life with little support.

Within their sheltered confines, their stories await to be heard, calling for community empathy to bring about hope where resignation once reigned.

In the picturesque landscapes of rural Tanzania, vibrant pastoralist communities are quietly grappling with a growing crisis.
Deep-seated societal traditions coupled with modern socio-economic shifts compounded by climate change effects, such as prolonged dry spells, have created a perfect storm.

Ms. Mesha Singolyo, a prominent indigenous activist and founder of PWDT, working in strategic partnership with the Global Fund for Widows and Diane Foundation, has been at the forefront of unveiling and challenging these regressive practices.

She describes a form of oppression she terms "matrimonial slavery," which disproportionately affects young wives in pastoralist communities.

For generations, pastoralist customs have dictated stringent family roles: women as caregivers and men as providers, wielding power and wealth.

However, contemporary pressures, like rural-to-urban migration, have shifted these dynamics, leaving young wives in precarious social and economic positions.

These pressures compel young men, often lacking formal education, to migrate to urban centers for low-paying jobs such as security guards.

This search for better prospects leaves young wives to fend for their families in rural homesteads, a task made even harder by customary laws that restrict women's rights.

"Imagine, their husbands have migrated to urban areas, and these women have no rights whatsoever to sell a cow to buy food for their children," explains Ms. Singolyo.

Instead, these women resort to selling charcoal, firewood, or grass to sustain their families. “They have to burn charcoal in a bid to eat, sometimes facing the wrath of the law, but often worsening the effects of climate change,” she laments.

The absence of their husbands, who may return sporadically, often leads to pregnancies without additional support, further compounding the women’s burdens.

Consequently, these women become the de facto breadwinners while remaining powerless in environments where they cannot legally own property or engage in economic activities without male consent.

This "matrimonial slavery" creates a silent epidemic of "social widows," a term coined by Ms. Singolyo to describe women who effectively live as single parents under the cultural guise of marriage.

"Challenges are countless in juggling their roles as mothers with their counterparts nowhere to be seen," says Ms. Singolyo. “Not the society alone is to blame; even nature does not support them.”

The psychological toll of these circumstances is immense. "Mental health is real in most pastoralist young wives, as they are left to live very tough lives, unprepared," observes Ms. Singolyo. The stress of sole responsibility, isolation, and lack of autonomy pushes many to extreme mental distress.

Ms. Singolyo's grassroots activism sheds light on this overlooked crisis. Working tirelessly within the community, she advocates for urgent intervention, calling upon both the Tanzanian government and civil societies to awaken to this issue.

"It's high time the government and civil societies gave attention to this new form of social widowhood and assisted these women before it's too late," she urges.

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of both traditional practices and modern socio-economic forces.

Empowering pastoralist women with legal rights, access to education, and economic opportunities could mitigate these pressures.

Ms. Singolyo’s work is pivotal in starting these crucial conversations. She aspires for a future where pastoralist women are empowered, seen, and heard, bridging the gap between traditional customs and modern realities.

By fostering dialogue and implementing practical solutions, society can ensure these women find a place of dignity and autonomy, free from the invisible chains that bind them today.