Pendo’s Leadership Sparks a Gender-Inclusive Movement in Rural Tanzania

Author: Deogratius Koyanga

“With just one dormitory for girls, we can reduce dropout rates and early pregnancies. Education becomes safer when girls live near school. These are the changes we’re fighting for.”
— Pendo Makala Mkumbo

In rural Tanzania, deep-rooted cultural norms and traditions have historically limited women's participation in leadership and decision-making. In communities such as the Wanyiramba in Singida Region, women have often been viewed as unfit to lead, despite supportive national policies and regional commitments advocating for gender equality, such as the Village Land Act (1999), the Local Government Act (1982), and the Maputo Protocol.

While Tanzania has made notable progress in advancing women’s rights on paper, practical implementation—especially at the community level remains hindered by persistent patriarchal attitudes and lack of awareness among both women and men. As a result, women's participation in political and leadership roles remains significantly low in many rural areas. In the 2019 local elections in Kikonge village, no woman held a leadership position.

Through the UKIJANI Project, implemented by HELVETAS Tanzania, women received training in leadership, gender equality, and community mobilization. One of the participants, Pendo Makala Mkumbo, emerged as a dynamic agent of change. Following her training in 2024, Pendo launched a grassroots campaign to transform societal attitudes and promote women's participation in leadership. Recognizing that male support was critical, she went beyond traditional campaign methods and personally engaged men in community hotspots such as local brew clubs, coffee gatherings, and football fields.

"We realized that empowering women alone wasn’t enough many were still blocked by their husbands. So we turned to the men and brought them into the change process," Pendo explains.

Pendo’s inclusive approach led to tangible results by Increased Women’s Political Participation. In the 2024 local elections, two women—Neema Said Shila and Hadija Mohamed Dafi ranked in the top five candidates for village chairperson positions. One woman mentored by Pendo was elected Sub-Village ‘Kitongoji’  Chairperson of Mabanda, a first for the community.

Shifting Gender Norms: Community members, including male elders, began publicly supporting women's leadership. One such leader, Mzee Omary Salum, shared: "I never imagined a woman could come to me and ask me to support my wife in running for office. But Pendo came personally, spoke kindly but firmly. She opened my eyes. Today, my wife is on the school committee."

As the UWT Ward Secretary, Pendo has advocated for gender-responsive services, including, Access to clean water, Improved maternal and child healthcare, School feeding programs, Construction of girls’ dormitories to reduce school dropout and teenage pregnancies

Pendo led awareness campaigns on women's land rights, resulting in many women being registered as co-owners. She mentored Elisiana Mkumbo, now a member of the Ward Land Tribunal, who educates women on land rights.

UKIJANI-trained leaders, led by Pendo, initiated school visits to educate students on reproductive health and gender-based violence. Initial reports show a reduction in teenage pregnancies.

Pendo’s story demonstrates that community-led, gender-transformative approaches can unlock systemic change. With the right training, support, and grassroots mobilization, women like Pendo are not only overcoming traditional barriers but also shaping a more inclusive future for their communities. Through UKIJANI, Pendo is inspiring a new generation of women leaders in Tanzania women who are not just participating, but leading.