Anna Abdallah Biography – Background, Education, Career and More

Anna Abdallah’s Background

Anna Abdallah Margareth (born July 26, 1940) is a Chama Cha Mapinduzi politician and Member of Parliament for a special seat in Tanzania.

From 1987 until 1996, she served in the National Assembly for Legislation. Anna Abdallah has been the head of the National Movement Democratic Front (NMDF) Party from 2005, and since then, she has worked for women’s rights, changed the gender-biased criminal justice system, supported indigenous language education, and also fought for the rights of the ethnic minority. Women’s Empowerment in Tanzania, Hauta kwa! – Shetawa and Joy,  Shetawa I kwanage ni kwijut are among her ten publications.

Education

Anna Abdallah received her elementary education in Mbeya, Tanzania, at Mtandi Primary School and Loleza Girls Middle School.

Anna Abdallah received her secondary school education at Tabora Girls Secondary School. 

In 1963, Anna Abdallah earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri in Sociology and Housing. She graduated from Queen Elizabeth College (University of London) with a certificate in Home Economics in 1967.

Anna Abdallah’s Career

Anna Abdallah is a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, which is now in power. She started her career in government in 1973, when she was appointed as one of the first female district commissioners.  She was elected to parliament for the first time in 1975, when there were only five other female lawmakers. She served as Tanzania’s Minister of Health from 2000 to 2005 as a certified nurse. She has also served as Minister of Public Works (1995-2000), Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (1991), and Minister of Local Government, Community Development, Co-operatives, and Marketing, among other positions in the government. Anna Abdallah was the first woman to lead the Defense and Security Committee. In 1983, Abdallah was granted direct control over the development of Dodoma’s new capital. From 1994 until 2008, she was the National Chairperson of the Union of Tanzanian Women. From 1969 until 1973, Abdallah served as the principal of Buhare College.

Anna Abdallah was instrumental in establishing Mazimbu, which would eventually become home to Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College. Abdallah planted a “friendship” tree at the Mazimbu’s establishment and visited it on a regular basis. She made it a goal to establish Mazimbu as a globally renowned destination, putting it on the global map everywhere she traveled. Anna Abdallah became an unofficial ambassador for the African National Congress (ANC), a national liberation organization, after championing its cause and spreading awareness of its presence. During Abdallah’s tenure in the Ministry of Home Affairs, she permitted the usage of extra land in Dakawa (undeveloped area in Tanzania) to provide greater room for ANC members who did not have an educational link to the Mazimbu institution.

Anna Abdallah sparked the creation of the Creators of Peace (CoP) worldwide peacemakers network in 1991 which was held at the Initiatives of Change convention center in Caux, Switzerland, asking attendees and everyone to “create peace wherever we are, in our hearts, our homes, our workplaces, and our communities.” We all act as though it’s someone else who’s the stumbling block… Is it possible that it’s me?” Since then, CoP has been engaged in a number of nations, mainly in Africa ( Burundi, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Cameroon, Sudan, Tanzania, and Nigeria ).

Anna Abdallah was given the Order of the United Republic of Tanzania in 1995.

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