By
Karen B. Hoffman
As Tanzania
tourism booms, and officially becomes the #1
Economic Sector for the Country, it should come as
no surprise that the number of women playing a
dynamic role in their country's amazing progress
has also grown dramatically. In the past decade the
door has been wide open with opportunities for
women to excel as professionals in Tanzania's
rapidly expanding travel industry.
And it all
starts from the top. In May, 1998, as Tanzania
hosted its first ATA Conference, it was a woman
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT),
Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, who was at the helm. She
was only the second woman to hold that post (the
first was Hon. Gertrude Mongella 1985-88). Hon.
Meghji, the longest serving Tourism Minister to
date, was elected President of ATA's International
Board of Directors in 2001 and led the organization
until 2004.
Now, a
decade later,
Tanzania's second ATA conference will also be
hosted by yet another dynamic lady, the Hon. Shamsa
S. Mwangunga, who was appointed as Minister of
Natural Resources & Tourism in February, 2008.
But this time, the Minister will also have a strong
female team to support her, including the
Ministry's second woman Permanent Secretary,
Blandina S. J. Nyoni (the first was Rose Lugembe in
1996-98) and the second woman Director of Tourism,
Maria Mmari (the first was the late Madina Muro,
1987-92). Zanzibar's tourism industry is also led
by a woman, the Hon. Sameer Suluhu Hassan, Minister
for Tourism, Trade and Investment.
This year, 2008,
Ms. Nyoni, announced that there were a record
number of appointments of women by H.E. President
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, to fill leadership positions
in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
In the Tourism Division, this included Maria Mmari,
Promoted to Director of Tourism; and Miriam
Zacharia and Nebo M.J. Mwina, Assistant Directors
in the Wildlife Department which plays a major role
in conservation in a country that protects more
than 25% of its land.
Accomplished
women can now be found in all sectors of the travel
industry. In Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA),
there are a growing number of National Park Chief
Wardens who are women, including two ladies
Elizabeth Loibook, Chief Park Warden and Manager of
Tourism Services, and Anna Grace Kyoma, Chief
Warden for the TANAPA Outreach Program, which
ensures that the local communities around the Parks
also derive a financial and social benefit from
Tourism. In fact, in TANAPA's new group of Park
Rangers, 13 out of 50 of the recruits are women,
quite a sizeable increase from only 8 female Park
Rangers. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority
also has female ranger/guides as well as several
women game wardens. Veronica Ufunguo, whom I wrote
about in 2003 as one of the rising stars of
Tanzania Tourism, is now Head of the Marketing
Section. In the private sector, Saada Juma, is
British Airways first woman manager in Tanzania.
There are now even lady pilots for some of the
domestic airlines. At trade shows, or tourism
events for Tanzania, one cannot help but notice how
many Tanzanian- owned tour companies have women
presidents and managing directors. The Hospitality
Industry also reflects the increasing number of
managerial roles filled by women, thanks in part to
the access to training through the National College
of Tourism, led by a woman, Agnes R. Mziray, and
the Arusha Hotel Training Institute, also headed by
a woman, Flora Hakika.
These talented
women, together with their male colleagues, portray
the professionalism and creativity that has boosted
tourism to become the number one industry in
Tanzania.
Photos at
top of page:
Hon. Hon. Shamsa
S. Mwangunga, Minister of Natural Reserouces and
Tourism (left) and Blandina S. J. Nyoni Permanent
Secretary (right).
Partial
list of women in key leadership roles
- in Tanzania's
Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism, its
Wildlife Department, Tanzania National Parks and
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. We
apologize to the many women who are not mentioned
because we did not have their names in time for the
publishing deadline. However, we will gladly
recognize them and expand this list for the story
with photos for the Africa Travel Magazine web site
(www.africatravelassociation.org) Starting from the
top leadership in Tanzania's Ministry of Natural
Resources & Tourism (MNRT), the Hon. Shamsa S.
Mwangunga, Minister for Natural Resources &
Tourism and Blandina S. J. Nyoni, Permanent
Secretary. Also in MNRT, Editha Beda, Ag. Director
of Administration & Personnel, Maria Mmari,
Director of Tourism, Uzeeli Kiangi, Assistant
Director, Tourism Division and and Doroth Massawe,
Head of Tourism Division, Arusha, Sub-Office. .
From the Widlife Division, Miriam Zacharia,
Assistant Director and Nebo M. J. Mwina, Assistant
Director. From the Tanzania Tourist Board, Serena
Shao, Tourism Services Manager and Severa Massawe,
Legal Advisor and Judy Gumbo, Managing Director's
Office. From Tanzania National Parks, TANAPA,
Elizabeth Loibook, Manager Tourism Service, Anna
Grace Kyoma, Chief Warden, Out-Reach Program,
Steria Ndaga, Chief Park Warden, Rubondo Island
National Park, Marietha Kibasa, Chief Park Warden
Tarangire National Park, Noelia Myonga, Chief Park
Warden, Gombe National Park, Haika Bayoma, Chief
Park Warden Sadaane National Park. From Ngorongoro
Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Veronica
Ufunguo, Head of Marketing Section. Also, Agnes R.
Mziray, Chief Executive, National College of
Tourism and Flora Hakika, Principal Arusha Hotel
Training Institute.
