Browsing by Author "Mtui, Balbina"

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    Domestic violence as a constraint on women’s development in Tanzania: A case study of Kinondoni Municipality
    (University of Dar es salaam, 2005) Mtui, Balbina
    This study examines various issues related to domestic violence and assesses how it affects women. It also discusses various meanings attached to domestic violence, victims of domestic violence with respect to gender, causes of domestic violence, effects of domestic violence as well as institutions that provides services to help victims of domestic violence. The study was conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam region. The instruments used for data collection were interview schedule and questionnaires. Secondary data were obtained from different libraries including University of Dar es Salaam. Observation methods were also used to complement information from primary and secondary sources. Three wards and Institutions dealing with domestic violence issues were purposely selected namely, TAMWA, TGNP, WLAC, LHRC and WILDAF. In order to get recorded data from wards, Ward Executive Officers (WEO) in each ward were visited. Thus total of (110) respondents were involved, including activists, victims and ward officers. The findings reveal that, domestic violence, particularly among women, is quite common in the study area. There are several contributing factors, cultural practices such as payment of dowry (bride wealth), emphasis on marriage and motherhood, and denial of direct access to land ownership serve to entrench the subordination of women to the power and authority of men and render them vulnerable to abuse. Subsequently, therefore, the study findings expose domestic violence as a consequence of the inequalities in the cultural, social, economic and political make¬up of the Tanzanian society, particularly Kinondoni Municipal. The study recommends that, it is imperative for both men and women to develop the willingness to address domestic violence. Moreover, government must ensure accessible, affordable and specialized legal services through enacting laws or legislation on domestic violence by taking appropriate measures to impose penalties, punishment and other enforcement mechanisms for the prevention and eradication of domestic violence.