Zambian women at AFWID

By ANN ZULU in Johannesburg, South Africa


THE air was on Sunday filled with excitement at the OR Tambo International Airport as women across the African continent flocked in to attend the ongoing African Women in Dialogue (AFWID) conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A delegation of 16 participants from Zambia which included women from sectors such as the Social Welfare, Law, Education, Media, Politics and Business among others touched down in johannesberg at exactly 15: 15 hours on November 3, 2019.

Among the noticable faces on the Zambian deligation team are Gender Activist and Former NGOCC Chairperson Sarah Longwe and Women and  Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) National Director Maureen  Tresha.

 Despite some logistical challenges  at the airport, the delegates entered  Birchwood Hotel, the venue for the event wide eyed and with joy.

2019 AFWID Summit Zambian participants

The Conference started on Monday November, 4 and is expected  to end on Friday November 8, 2019.

AFWID is an inclusive platform of dialogue founded by Former South African First Lady Zanela Mbeki and seeks to unite African women from all walks of life, with a bias towards women who live in under resourced rural and urban areas, under one roof to deliberatye on issues of continental importance.

The platform is not representative of any organisation or political opinion, as women are encouraged to speak theirf own voices according to theirf own perspectives and personal experiences.

It gives voice to the perspectives and experiences of thousands of African women including rural and urban women, politicians, public servants, women of various religios denominations, faith based formations, academics, development practitioners, traditional leaders, proffesionals from diverse fields and youth, to share opinions and exchange views and review policies on themes crafted by national, continental and global agendas.

Some of the objectives of AFWID are to contribute towards attaining a united voice African women on continental issues, strengthen national regional and continental networks of women organisations and review continental stratgegies and programmes which are aimed at impacting African women.

This year´s conference is attended by 1000 women from all over Africa.

The official opening ceremony

Women from 55 African countries gathered at the second AFWID conference at the Birchwood Conference Centre, under the theme “Women`s Power and Voices as Agents of Change”.

The Wits Choir led the deligates to singing the African Union anthen and later the South African National anthem, as the host of the event.

The Choir kept the audience enttertained with musical and dance performances. Deligates joined in the dances, even though most of them could hardly understand the South African languages which the songs were mostly being sung.

Welcoming message

The beautifully dressed Programme Director, Lebogang Chaka welcomed the deligates with a word of encouragement reminding women of the important role they play in the development of the African continent.

Zanela  Mbeki Development Trust Trustee Mojanku Gumbu reteirated the need for women to get united and address the challenges affecting them.

Ms Gumbu said the time had come for African women to hold hands and work together.

“If we stand up together as women and speak with one voice, our voice will be heard. The time has come has come for us to take our rightful position and respect in the world,” Ms Gumbu said.

She said this year`s theme “Women`s Power and Voices as Agents of Change” emphasise that it is in the hands of women to effect the change they want.

She urged women to seize their power to change their own conditiotions, and dire societal conditions they faced.

Ms Gumbu reiterated that the forum gave voice to all women, especially to those who ten to get left behind.

Zambia´s Perspective

In an interview with this reporter, Women and  Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) National Director Maureen  Tresha thanked the organisers of the conference.

Ms Tresha said the event was an opportunity for Zambian women to learn various strategies that were being implimated by other African countries to address issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV), Early Marriage and Underrepresntation of women in decision making.

“This event is very important, it brings women from various countries and it is from here we get to learn how far other women have gone in women´s rights in their various countries,” Ms Tresha said.