LONDON WELCOMES AND SUPPORTS ANTI FGM CAMPAIGN IN TANZANIA

....Wednesday 15^th October 2014...

A tiny delegation of well educated women; modest and intelligent will be welcomed into one of the most powerful rooms in the northern hemisphere. First is Mrs Rhobi Samwelly, mother of four kids, hailing from Butiama, Mara, Tanzania.

Mrs Rhobi Samwelly with High Commissioner's wife to the UK, Mrs Joyce Kallaghe at the fund raising evening, Central Hall, Westminster, last week. 

Mmmh.  

Butiama is legendary. Home of father of the nation, the late Mwalimu Nyerere. His widow, Mama Maria, is a staunch supporter of the cause and reason that has sent Mrs Rhobi Samwelly trekking to London.  By her side,  Ann-Marie Wilson, Executive Director of 28 Too Many, a London charity working to end female genital mutilation, i.e. FGM. Third shall be Comfort Momoh, a mid wife treating women affected by FGM at Guy’s Hospital, London.

The three are part of a large, complex chain of events and campaigns,   across the world.

 One of the events was steered by members of the Tanzania Development Trust Fund and British Tanzania Society - BTs,  Janet Chapman, Petronella Mwakatuma and Jonathan Pace with other colleagues.

Janet Chapman  with Jonathan Pace...who have dedicated  alot of time and effort to the fundraising events...

  In May and now October (2nd and 4^th), fundraising concerts were held here in London to help build a safe house for young girls fleeing FGM in Mugumu, Mara.

WE SHOULD ALL SPEAK OUT AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION !!!

For decades now some of us have been disgusted by the cruel tradition of chopping off private parts of young girls, technically known as female genital mutilation (FGM). In mid 1980s when well known names began raising their voices against FGM, African American writer, Alice Walker, stood out. The award winning Ms Walker eventually published “Possessing the Secret Joy” a novel (below) describing “a fictional African nation where female genital mutilation is practised.”

These protests however, have no effect without government and law enforcing institutions.

Known as “ukeketaji” in Tanzania, the illegal practise has been condemned by high authorities since the times of  Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and his widow, Mama Maria Nyerere.