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UPDATED: 27 Mar 2009 GMT
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Speeches

Close Window The United States Chargé d’Affaires, Larry André (right) presents a certificate to Member of Parliament for Same East constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, the Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela (left), who was selected as the 2009 Tanzanian Woman of Courage.
The United States Chargé d’Affaires, Larry André (right) presents a certificate to Member of Parliament for Same East constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, the Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela (left), who was selected as the 2009 Tanzanian Woman of Courage.
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The United States Chargé d’Affaires, Larry André (right) presents a certificate to Member of Parliament for Same East constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, the Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela (left), who was selected as the 2009 Tanzanian Woman of Courage.
The United States Chargé d’Affaires, Larry André (right) presents a certificate to Member of Parliament for Same East constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, the Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela (left), who was selected as the 2009 Tanzanian Woman of Courage.

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires, Larry André, for the Women of Courage lunch

Venue: American Embassy, Dar es Salaam

March 26, 2009

Each year, our Foreign Ministry recognizes women from around the world who have shown great courage and leadership in struggles to improve the lives of their fellow citizens. This luncheon celebrates the accomplishments of Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela, our Tanzanian nominee for the 2009 Award for International Women of Courage.

The American people have given my colleagues and me the task of working with leaders around the world to advance democracy, prosperity and security. These goals can be fully realized only once women take their full and rightful place in society, at all levels of leadership. Democracy flourishes when all citizens, both men and women, participate equally in the political process. Economic development progresses rapidly when men and women have equal access to education and economic opportunities. A nation is secure when all its citizens, both men and women, are equally protected from harm.

For 2009, the award for Africa went to Ms Hadizatou Mani of Niger. She was sold into slavery at the age of 12 for the equivalent of $500. She persevered against great odds and eventually managed to gain her freedom. She is now helping others trapped in similar circumstances to seek justice, civil liberties and freedom.

I am honored today to present the Tanzania Woman of Courage award to the Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela. She publicly demanded that powerful individuals answer questions about corruption. In doing so, she broke from custom and attracted personal threats to her safety. Despite these threats, she continued to put her fellow citizens’ interests ahead of her personal wellbeing. Corruption undermines the economy, corrodes the people’s faith in their national institutions and threatens social harmony. It occurs whenever a person in a position of public trust uses that position for private gain. It is an evil existing in all societies worldwide. Over the past several months there have been several high profile corruption cases in the news and in the courts in the United States. We are not free of this evil. The United States and Tanzania both struggle to identify and bring to justice corrupt individuals. Success in this effort requires that courageous and righteous leaders at all levels stand up and say “NO! Stealing from the people will not be allowed!” Success requires people like Honorable Anne Kilango Malecela.