Beloved Zukivah Njalai Mihyo Sunrise September 28, 1952 – Sunset August 20, 2021

The Board of Trustees of Women Fund Tanzania (WFT Trust), Management, Staff, and network are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved friend, sister, and esteemed Board Member Zukivah Njalai Mihyo. A specialist in women’s rights, gender equality, and social development, she was affectionately known as Dada Zuki and served as a member of WFT since the Fund’s inception in 2011; later becoming a member in the Board of Trustees. Her dedication and commitment to advance gender equality is incomparable. Women Fund Tanzania Trust appreciates Dada Zuki’s tireless efforts in strengthening the Fund’s institutional capacity and guidance throughout its growth. We will forever cherish her contributions to the expansion of the Fund’s grantmaking programme reaching women and girls that are most in need in different parts of Tanzania.

On behalf of the women’s movement in Tanzania served by Women Fund Tanzania Trust, we acknowledge Dada Zuki’s immense contributions in promoting transformative approaches in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) as well as regional normative frameworks on gender equality including SADC. Dada Zuki will be remembered for fostering gender equality and women’s rights principles in policy and development processes including offering capacity building support for the effective implementation, monitoring, and tracking of results. Dada Zuki contributed greatly in enhancing gender responsive research to inform evidence based policy making as well as in engaging in strategic advocacy and dialogues including through the Gender Mainstreaming Working Group-Macro Policy, a national level platform for policy engagement on gender equality and women’s rights.

As we join her family in mourning, we celebrate her effective leadership, innovative insights on women’s rights and gender equality and her great ability to forge partnerships in pursuing opportunities to develop capacities for women’s rights and the gender equality movement in Tanzania and beyond.

We will always remember her infectious smile, her big heart, her incredible joyful energy, and great personality. Her spirit will remain a source of inspiration for us forever.

May Her Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.