This archive report was first published on 24 August 2021.
Published on August 24, 2021, Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has come under fire for her comments about women footballers.
At a ceremony celebrating the national men's team's victory in a regional football championship, President Samia made remarks that have been widely criticized.
"For those who have flat chests, you might think they are men and not women," she said, sparking outrage among women's rights activists.
President Samia also suggested that women footballers would not be attractive candidates for marriage due to their physical appearance.
"And if you look at their faces you might wonder... because if you want to marry, you want someone who is attractive, a lady who has the qualities that you want," she said.
Her comments have been met with widespread condemnation, with many calling for her to apologize.
"The comment by president @SuluhuSamia on women footballers is a humiliation to all women," said Catherine Ruge, the head of the women's wing of the opposition Chadema party and a former MP.
"All women deserve respect," she added.
