Status of Gender and Top Leadership Positions: Influencing Impediments in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

Globally, efforts have been made to attain gender equality in all aspects of life, these efforts includes increasing number of women to  occupy top leadership position in the government and private sectors. Regardless of all initiatives still the ratio of women to occupy top  leadership positions is not significant. The aim of this paper was to investigate the status of gender and top leadership positions in  Zanzibar and disclose its influencing impediments. A cross-sectional design was employed where a total of 80 respondents were surveyed  under the questionnaire with both crossed and open-ended questions. Other method of data collection includes; Interview,  Focus Group Discussion and Documentary review. Content analysis and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) were used to  analyze the qualitative and quantitative data. Findings reported that women occupy less than 20% of all top leadership positions in local  government from 2010 to 2025. It further indicates that women occupy less than 38% in the House of Representatives including special  seats from 2010 to 2025. Additionally, women occupy less than 25% of the ministerial positions. Nevertheless, highlighted major impediment factors which cause women not to occupy top leadership positions in the study area include: lack of education, lack of  financial support, poor political background, existing cultural norms, and gender stereotyping. The study recommends transformative  gender strategies including: introduction of basket fund to support women during electoral campaign. It also recommends special,  mentorship, and coaching programs for women who are inspired to become leaders. For the purposes of enriching gender equality in  Zanzibar and other areas in the global it further recommends the review of the quota system policies to allow members of the parliament  to have equal rights regardless of their membership structures.