Huwezi kuongelea haki za wanawake duniani bila kumtaja Balozi Gertrude Ibengwe Mongela (pichani) Leo hii miongoni mwa wengi anajulikana kama “Mama Beijing”. Hii ni kutokana na yeye kusimamia mkutano maarufu wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusiana na wanawake uliofanyikia katika jiji la Beijing nchini China mwezi Septemba mwaka 1995. Katibu mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa wakati huo, raia wa Misri, Boutros Boutros Ghali ndiye aliyemkabidhi Balozi Mongela dhamana hiyo.
Leo hii ndiye mwanamke wa pili barani Afrika mwenye madaraka ya juu kabisa ya kuchaguliwa. Wa kwanza ni Raisi wa Liberia, mwanamama Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Mama Mongela ni raisi wa Bunge la Afrika nafasi ambayo anaishikilia tangu mwezi March mwaka 2004 alipochaguliwa. Bunge la Afrika liliundwa mwaka huo huo wa 2004 na hivyo kumfanya Balozi Mongella kuwa raisi wake wa kwanza. Lakini madaraka na uwajibikaji kwa Gertrude Mongela sio jambo geni hata kidogo. Kama ambavyo utaweza kuona hapo chini kwenye CV yake, Mama Mongella sio tu mpigania haki za wanawake bali pia ni mfano ulio hai kwamba cha msingi sio jinsia bali uwezo binafasi wa mtu. Bila ubishi, Balozi Mongella ni mmojawapo kati “mabalozi” nyeti kabisa tulionao nchini Tanzania.
Balozi Mongella enzi hizo.
Mama Gertrude Mongella alizaliwa katika kisiwa cha Ukerewe (kilichopo ndani ya Ziwa Victoria) mkoani Mwanza mwaka 1945 akiwa ni mtoto wa pili katika familia ya watoto wanne (watatu ni wanawake na kaka mmoja ambaye ndio wa kwanza kuzaliwa) katika familia yao. Baba yake Patrice Magologozi alikuwa ni mjenzi, fundi seremala na mwanaharakati akikabiliana na siasa za mkoloni. Mama yake Bibi Nambona alikuwa ni mkulima stadi.
Gertrude alikuwa na umri wa miaka 12 tu alipolazimika kukiacha kisiwa cha Ukerewe kuelekea shuleni Maryknoll Nuns(Musoma), shule ambayo ilikuwa chini ya masista wa kanisa katoliki ambao nia yao ilikuwa ni kuelimisha wanawake ili waweze kushiriki ipasavyo katika maendeleo ya nchi ya Tanzania ambayo wakati huo ndio kwanza ilikuwa imejipatia uhuru kutoka kwa waingereza.
Baada ya hapo alijiunga na chuo kikuu cha Dar-es-salaam ambako mwaka 1970 alihitimu na kupata shahada ya kwanza akisomea Elimu(Bachelor of Arts in Education).Baada ya kuhitimu alianza kazi ya kufundisha katika Chuo cha Ualimu Dar-es-salaam ambapo alifundisha kwa takribani miaka minne.Baada ya hapo Balozi Gertrude Mongela alijiingiza kwenye siasa na baadaye mnamo mwaka 1975 kufanikiwa kuingia kwenye lililokuwa Bunge la Afrika Mashariki. Huo ndio ukawa mwanzo wa maisha yake katika siasa ingawa mwenyewe anasema hamu ya kuwa mwanasiasa alikuwa nayo tangu utotoni kutokana na kuvutiwa na alichokuwa akikifanya baba yake.
Balozi Mongela akiwa na Boutros B.Ghali makao makuu ya UN, New York mwaka 1995 baada ya mkutano wa kimataifa wa wanawake wa Beijing,China.
Huu hapa ni msururu wa vyeo na nafasi mbalimbali ambazo Balozi Gertrude Mongella amewahi kuvitumikia na vingine bado anavitumikia. Kutoka juu ni cheo alichonacho hivi sasa na chini kabisa ni kuanzia alipomaliza shahada yake ya chuo kikuu.
2004 -President of Pan-African Parliament
2003 -Goodwill Ambassador – WHO Africa Region
2002 -Leader of OAU Election Observer Team to Zimbabwe Presidential Election
2002 -Member of the Regional reproductive Health Task Force- WHO AfricaRegion
2002 -Member The High Level Advisory Panel (HAP) of Eminent Persons-OAU
2000 -Member of Parliament – Ukerewe Constituency Tanzania
1999 -Member of the Council of “The Future” – UNESCO, Paris
1998 -Member of OAU – Women Committee for Peace and development, Addis Ababa
1997 -Senior Advisor to the Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Gender Issues.
1996 -President of Advocacy for Women in Africa (AWA)Patroness to the following NGO’s:- TAWALE (Tanzania Association of Women Leaders in Agricultureand environment);- SWAAT (Society for Women and Aids in Africa Tanzania Branch);- TDA (Tanzania Dental Association);- MAWAU (Meaendeleo ya Wanawake Ukeuewe)
1996 -Member of the Board- UN University- Tokyo
1996 -Member of the Board- The Hunger Project- N.Y, USA
1996 -Member of the Board- Agency for Co-operation and Research inDevelopment (ACORD), London
1996 -Member of the Advisory Group to Director general UNESCO; for the follow up of the Beijing Conference in Africa, South of the Sahara
1996 - 1997 UN Under-Secretary and Special Envoy to the Secretary general of theUnited Nations on Women’s Issues and Development
1993 – 1995 UN Assistant Secretary General and Secretary General, fourth WorldConference on Women 1995- Beijing, China
1991 – 1993 Tanzania High Commissioner to India
1990 – 1993 Member of the Trustee- United Nation International Research and Training Institutes for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Santa Domingo
1989 - 1990 Minister Without Portfolio - Government of Tanzania
1989 -Tanzania Representative- Commission on the Status of Women
1985 -Vice-Chairperson- World Conference to review and Appraise the Achievements of the UN decade for Women.
1987 – 1990 Minister without Portfolio- President’s Office
1985 – 1987 Minister of Lands, Tourism and Natural Resources
1982 - 1991 Head - Social Services Department, Government of Tanzania
1982 – 1988 Minister of State- Prime Minister’s Office
1980 – 1993 Member of Parliament- Tanzania
1977 – 1992 Member of central Committee and National Executive Committee of CCM party
1975 – 1982 Member of the Council- University of Dar es Salaam
1975 – 1980 Member of the Board of Directors- Tanzania Rural Development Bank
1978 – 1982 School Inspector
1975 – 1977 Member of the East African Legislative Assembly
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