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published photo, AFP
Samia Hassan took over the presidency in March
The Tanzanian president has come under criticism after saying that footballers in his country have “flat chests” and are not attractive enough to marry.
Samia Hassan’s remarks came during the reception of the Tanzanian national men’s under-23 football team at the presidential residence in Dar es Salaam.
Samia Hassan, 61, is Tanzania’s first female president.
She recently told the BBC that some are wondering if she should take the job because she is a woman.
“Even some people in my government initially ignored me as another woman and then accepted my leadership,” she said.
Samia Hassan’s recent comments have been the subject of much criticism on social media.
Catherine Rogge, the former prime minister and head of the women’s wing of the opposition Shadma party, said the president’s comment on female footballers is an insult to all women.
Additionally, Lossago, a gender and mental health researcher, said she was “shocked.”
Another asked, Henry Ngogo, “Isn’t that equivalent to saying that life has no meaning without marriage?
The BBC has asked soccer officials in Tanzania to comment on the president’s statement.
Samia Hassan said that Tanzanian footballers make their country proud to win the awards, but some of them have no chance of getting married because of their looks.
“If we bring them here and put them online, you’ll think flat-chested people are men and not women,” she added.
She added that some female athletes are married, but most of them are single, “for what they are, married life is just a dream.”
During her speech, she indicated that the life of the athletes is difficult after retirement, and called on the authorities to ensure that they are taken care of after the end of their sports career.
She said the situation was particularly difficult in the case of women “whose legs are tired when they retire from sport”.
Samia assumed the presidency in March, when she replaced John Magufuli, who died of heart complications.
The former president has been widely criticized for banning girls or pregnant mothers from going to school.
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