Ummy Mwalimu

Ummy Ally Mwalimu (born 5 September 1973) is a Tanzanian politician belonging to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. She currently serves as the Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) in the Cabinet of Tanzania. She is a third-term Member of Parliament, firstly appointed to a seat reserved for women in the parliament of Tanzania in 2010.

Honourable Ummy Mwalimu MP
Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment)
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 December 2020
President	John Magufuli
Preceded by	Mussa Zungu
Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children
In office 12 December 2015 – 5 November 2020
President	John Magufuli
Succeeded by	Dorothy Gwajima
Deputy State Minister of Environment
In office 30 January 2014 – 5 November 2015
Minister	Binilith Mahenge
Preceded by	Charles Kitwanga
Deputy Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children
In office 28 November 2010 – 20 January 2014
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2010
Constituency	None (Special Seat)
Personal details
Born	5 September 1973
Nationality	Tanzanian
Political party	CCM
Alma mater	UDSM (LL.B) University of Pretoria (LL.M)

Background and education

Mwalimu was born on September 5, 1973. She completed her schooling from the Korogwe Girls Secondary School in 1993. in 1998, she received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam. She received her Master of Laws degree from the University of Pretoria in 2001. Between 2000 and 2010, she worked in various governmental and NGO agencies in legal, research and governance roles.[1]

Political career

Mwalimu first became involved with the CCM in 2007. She is a two-term Member of Parliament as a member of CCM. In 2010 and again in 2015, she was appointed to a seat reserved for women by the President.[1]

In President Jakaya Kikwete's administration, she served in a succession of ministerial roles. Between 2010 and 2014, she was Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children. She also served as Deputy Minister in the Vice President's Office and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.[1]

In 2015, the newly elected President John Magufuli appointed Mwalimu as Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.[2]

As Health Minister, she banned the importation and sale of sexual lubricants into Tanzania stating this would curb homosexuality, which is criminalized in Tanzania. This stance has been condemned by NGOs and goes against UNAIDS recommendation that providing water-based lubricants along with condoms can help curb the spread of HIV.[3]

Mwalimu has stated her support for ending underage marriage and assured activists she would table a bill in Parliament amending the laws that allow persons under the age of 18 to get married. Once the law is passed, this practice will be illegal.[4]

References

1. "Profile: Ummy Ally Mwalimu". Parliament of Tanzania. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
2. Rose Athumani (December 11, 2015). "New lean Union cabinet unveiled". Daily News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
3. Charlotte England (July 23, 2016). "Tanzania bans lubricant in bid to 'curb homosexuality'". The Independent. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
4. Bernard Lugongo (July 12, 2016). "Bill on Marriage Act seeks to end underage marriages". Daily News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.