Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
THE African Union has commended Zimbabwe’s commitment to enhancing youth and women’s representation in leadership roles and economic inclusion, as espoused under its national development plan and in sync with it’s continental development strategy under Agenda 2063.
Ms Chido Mpemba, the newly appointed Special Advisor to AU Chairperson Mahmoud Youssef, paid a courtesy call on Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga in Harare yesterday and commended Zimbabwe’s strides in the areas of youth and women empowerment.
The AU Chair’s special advisor is in Zimbabwe for the 7th Inter-Generational Retreat of the African Women Leaders Network which will be held in Harare today. More than 300 women leaders from across the continent are expected to attend.
The retreat aims to foster dialogue between generations and empower young women across various sectors, addressing critical issues such as gender-based violence, economic participation and political representation.
Following her meeting with Acting President Chiwenga, who is pencilled to open the AWLN this morning, Ms Mpemba expressed the AU’s appreciation of the strides Zimbabwe has made in youth and women’s leadership.
“It was such a great opportunity to meet with the Acting President. As you might be aware, there is an event that’s happening in Zimbabwe and this event is hosting over 300 women that are coming from across Africa,” said Ms Mpemba.
“Some of them are former Heads of State, some are former ministers and this opportunity is for us to dialogue with the younger women for an intergenerational retreat.”
She said her conversation with the Acting President focused on the importance of empowering the girl child.
“I myself, I am a product of Zimbabwe and as much as I am working on the continental level, it is so encouraging just to see the commitment of our Government to ensure that we have more youth and young women representation, not only in leadership positions, but getting opportunities for empowerment.
“I also got the opportunity today to inform the Acting President about my new position because it is the first time that I am here in Zimbabwe since my new appointment,” said Ms Mpemba.
As the immediate outgoing special envoy on youth for the AU, Ms Mpemba brings a wealth of experience and insights to her new role as special advisor to the AU chairperson, particularly in advocating for the rights and needs of the girl child and young women in Africa.
Her appointment coincides with a pivotal moment, as the continent strives to leverage the potential of its youth to drive sustainable development, in line with the aspirations of both member states and continental frameworks.
“I have that encouragement that my country is supporting me as a young woman to ensure that I excel in this leadership position,” Ms Mpemba said.
“Agenda 2063, especially Aspiration 6, talks about an Africa whose development shall focus on the potential of its people, especially its youth and its women. It is also important that we see where the world is going and how we can make sure that our youth and women are not left behind”.
She said technology, advancement and transformation are the theme for the African Women Leadership Network retreat.
“How can we make sure that we empower our young people and women as well to make sure that they have the relevant skills that are needed for the 21st century? How can we ensure that, you know, there’s access?
“Because it’s one thing to teach people about technology and it’s another for them to have access to technology.
“This includes access to opportunities and funding to be able to start up their own businesses while leveraging on the innovation of technology. The second one is to focus on gender-based violence.
“We see this across the continent, that a lot of women are affected by gender-based violence. In February the Heads of State made a declaration at the African union Summit to adopt and implement the convention to end violence against women and girls,” said Ms Mpemba.
