On 23 October 2025, JamiiAfrica participated in a workshop on Gender, Election Security, and Justice organized by WiLDAF. The workshop focused on aligning operational roles and protection mechanisms to address gender-based risks during election periods. It also aimed to strengthen collaboration between Electoral Management Bodies, the police, and gender desks, and to adopt a joint communiqué and action plan promoting gender-responsive electoral security and justice.
Discussions revealed that although Tanzania’s legal framework on gender and electoral security is relatively strong, implementation gaps remain. The session provided important insights into both the legal landscape and public perceptions of technology-facilitated gender abuse. Participants also used the platform to establish benchmarks for approaching future elections by drawing lessons from previous engagements.
Representing JamiiAfrica, Francis Nyonzo emphasized that restricting digital platforms could disadvantage individuals with limited resources for political campaigns. He noted that not everyone can afford door-to-door or large physical campaign activities, while digital platforms offer access to wider audiences at significantly lower cost.
During a panel on digital issues, a police officer overseeing the gender desk expressed interest in JamiiAfrica’s work on privacy and digital gender-based violence. She requested collaboration to help address online abuse, and JamiiAfrica’s representative affirmed the organization’s readiness to partner with law enforcement to support safer digital spaces for all citizens.
The workshop concluded that while such engagements are valuable during election periods, they are even more effective when initiated well in advance. Many citizens remain unaware of the different forms of digital bullying and lack knowledge on how to respond to online abuse—highlighting the need for intensified public education. As the Police Department continues establishing a call center, participants stressed that gender desks must strengthen their capacity to handle digital-related cases more effectively.
