Anna Abdallah

Anna Margareth Abdallah (born 26 July 1940) is a Tanzanian Chama Cha Mapinduzi politician and a special seat Member of Parliament. She was a member of the National Legislative Assembly from 1987 to 1996. Anna has been the chairman of the National Movement People's Democratic Front Party since 2005, since she took over the reins as party leader, she has promoted women's rights, advocated for change in the gender-biased criminal justice system, supported education in indigenous languages, and campaigned for ethnic minority rights. She is the author of ten books, including Shettawa I kwannage ni kwijut, Hauta kwa! – Shettawa and Joy! Women Empowerment in Tanzania and much more.

Education For her primary education, Abdallah went to both Mtandi Primary School and Loleza Girls Middle School in Mbeya, Tanzania. In 1967, she received a diploma in Home Economics from the University of London (Queen Elizabeth College) in the United Kingdom.

Career Abdallah is a member of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party. Her experience in government began when she was named as one of the first female district commissioners in 1973. As a qualified nurse, she was the Minister of Health for Tanzania from 2000 to 2005. Other government posts she has held 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 and many others. Abdallah was the first woman chairperson of the committee on Defense and Security. Abdallah became an unofficial ambassador for the ANC, a national liberation movement, because she'd championed for its cause and spread knowledge about its existence.

In 1995, she was awarded the Order of the United Republic of Tanzania.