Anna Abdallah

Anna Abdallah
Born	(1940-07-26) July 26, 1940 Tanzania
Occupation(s)	Politician, nurse, author
Years active	1973–present
Known for	Tanzanian politician, Minister of Health (2000–2005), Chairperson of National Movement People's Democratic Front Party

Anna Margareth Abdallah (born 26 July 1940) is a Tanzanian politician affiliated with the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, serving as a special seat Member of Parliament. Her tenure in the National Legislative Assembly spanned from 1987 until 1996. Since 2005, Abdallah has led the National Movement People's Democratic Front Party as its chairperson, focusing on advancing women's rights, pushing for reforms in the gender-discriminatory criminal justice system, promoting education in native languages, and advocating for the rights of ethnic minorities. She has published ten works, among them Shettawa I kwannage ni kwijut, Hauta kwa! – Shettawa, and Joy! Women Empowerment in Tanzania.

Education

Abdallah's early education included Mtandi Primary School and Loleza Girls Middle School located in Mbeya, Tanzania, followed by studies at Tabora Girls Secondary School. In 1963, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree specializing in sociology and housing from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She further pursued a diploma in Home Economics at the University of London (Queen Elizabeth College), which she obtained in 1967.

Career

A longstanding member of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, Abdallah's public service career commenced in 1973 when she became one of Tanzania’s pioneering female district commissioners. By 1975, she was serving in parliament alongside only five other women. Trained as a nurse, she held the position of Minister of Health from 2000 to 2005. Her ministerial appointments also include Minister for Public Works (1995–2000), Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (1991), and Minister for Local Government, Community Development, Co-operatives and Marketing. Notably, she was the inaugural female chairperson of the Defense and Security committee and played a supervisory role in the development of Dodoma as the new capital city in 1983. From 1994 until 2008, Abdallah served as National Chairperson of the Union of Tanzanian Women and was principal of Buhare College between 1969 and 1973.

Abdallah was instrumental in establishing Mazimbu, the site of Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College, and actively promoted its mission internationally. She functioned as an informal envoy for the African National Congress (ANC), supporting their efforts and facilitating land provision in Dakawa to assist ANC members who were not connected to Mazimbu educationally.

In 1991, during a conference organized by Initiatives of Change in Caux, Switzerland, Abdallah inspired the creation of the Creators of Peace (CoP) global network aimed at fostering peace within communities and workplaces. Since its inception, CoP has been active across numerous African nations including South Africa, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

In acknowledgment of her contributions to public service, she received the Order of the United Republic of Tanzania in 1995.