Bad Traditions and customs

Bad traditions and customs

Bad traditions and customs are still a big problem in many Tanzanian and African communities. Some of them are a major source of gender violence and sexual harassment.

With modern development, communities have the responsibility to embrace positive change that promotes the wellbeing of the society. People should not abandon their traditions and customs.

Some of the bad traditions and customs that have existed since pre-colonial times including

1. Gender and sexual violence.
2. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
3. Early marriages for girls.
4. Superstition.
5. Killing of the elderly and people with albinism.
6. As well as inheriting widows.

Effects of bad traditions and customs on pre-colonial Tanzanian societies

During this period, communities relied heavily on ideas and advice from elders, especially traditional leaders and healers. This situation went hand in hand with bad beliefs such as superstition and sorcery. As noted above, bad traditions and customs during this period resulted in the:

1. Killing of the elderly and people with albinism.
2. Female genital mutilation (FGM).
3. Also, they caused sexual harassment and the exclusion of people with disabilities such as lepers. Such people were excluded, hidden and even killed in some societies. This is because community members believed that living with such people could bring misfortunes because they were cursed.

Impact of bad customs and traditions in the post-colonial Tanzanian society

Despite the presence of laws prohibiting and punishing perpetrators of harmful traditions and customs, such traditions still persist in some communities. Examples of these harmful traditions in the modern societies include:

1. Sexual harassment.
2. Sexual violence.
3. Female genital mutilation (FGM).

Ways to eradicate the bad post-colonial traditions and customs

The government cooperates with civil society organizations to protect and defend victims of violence in the community. The government, in collaboration with civil societies, has put in place various techniques in order to eradicate bad traditions and customs. The techniques include:

1. To mobilize the society through rallies, road shows and public adverts aimed to provide education and awareness about the impact of sexual violence and other kinds of violence.
2. To organise capacity building for training some professionals, traditional and religious leaders and those who lead the fight against bad traditions in their areas.
3. To build stakeholders' network against gender-based violence and to use institutions and people who are role models in eradicating gender-based violence. One of such example is the formation of the Tanzania Gender Network Programme (TGNP).
4. To provide education and awareness to the community through media such as leaflets, radio and television programmes, newspapers and magazines. That can also be done through sports and drama in various social events.
5. Creation and promotion of platforms to fight gender-based violence through children groups which work as ambassadors in defending their rights.
6. To provide civic education on the rights of persons with disabilities as well as children and women's rights in fighting against harmful traditions and customs in Tanzania.