The Tanzanian parliament has banned female lawmakers from entering the parliament with fake nails and eyelashes.
Job Ndugai, the speaker of the parliament, who made the announcement on Monday, told BBC he imposed the ban after their deputy health minister raised concerns about the health risks posed by fake nails and eyelashes — because this is totally about female health and not men having agency over women’s bodies.
This news comes just days after the Tanzanian president, John Magufuli urged Tanzanian women to “give up contraceptive methods” insisting that his country needs more people. The president said family planning had led to a declining population in Europe, and a workforce crisis.
“Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family. And that is why they opt for birth control and end up with one or two children. I have travelled to Europe and elsewhere and I have seen the side-effects of birth control. In some countries, they are now struggling with declining population growth. They have no labour force.”
Mr Magufuli’s comments were however condemned by MP Cecil Mewambe who said:
“Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a maximum of four children from one family.”
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