Speaker of the Tanzanian Parliament Job Ndugai has banned female Members of Parliament from entering the House with false eyelashes and fingernails.
The speaker said on Monday 10th September 2018 during a House session in Dodoma, Tanzania. “With the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, I now ban all MPs with false eyelashes and false fingernails from stepping into Parliament,†Ndugai said.
The announcement came shortly after Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Faustine Ndugulile told the House that women with false eyelashes and false finger nails face serious health risks that are costly to the country.
According to confirmed reports, at least 700 women are admitted to hospitals in Tanzania with complications as a result of using false eyelashes, false finger nails and skin bleaching.
Back in Kenya, female leaders were also embroiled in a similar debate on August 24, although on this occasion, the motion revolved around Murang’a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege’s alleged inappropriate dressing. A section of leaders including majority leader, Aden Duale, urged the speaker to ban any form of unofficial dressing in parliament for the sake of uniformity.
False eyelashes can permanently damage the hair follicles, cause allergic reactions which if not treated can damage one's eyes and can sometimes cause loss of sight.