The change in the leadership of the Organisation of African
First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), officially took place at a ceremony held
at the Burkina Faso embassy in United States on Wednesday.
The new vice president of the organisation, First Lady
Auxillia Mnangagwa, called for urgent attention on issues of
gender-based-violence, child marriages, non-communicable diseases and
sustainable empowerment of women and the youths.
Amai Mnangagwa was voted vice president of OAFLAD in
recognition of her philanthropic work and assistance to the less privileged in
Zimbabwe. She was appointed after elections held during the 23rd OAFLAD’s
General Assembly meeting that ran concurrently with the African Union’s
Extraordinary Summit in Niamey, Niger in July this year.
Amai Mnangagwa took over from the First Lady of Kenya,
Margaret Kenyatta, while the First Lady of Congo Brazaville Antoinette Sassou
Nguesso, took over as president from Burkina Faso First Lady, Adjoavi Sika
Kabore.
The First Ladies and OAFLAD secretariat met at the Burkina
Faso embassy for the signing ceremony.
In her acceptance speech, Amai Mnangagwa said there was a
lot to be done by the organisation to improve the lives of African people. She
said she was honoured to have been selected to the post of vice president
adding that she accepted the responsibilities that came with the job.
“Our organisation requires a lot of work if we are to
improve the lives of our people,” she said. “As enshrined in our 2019-2023
strategic document, I will direct the attention of all our members to key focus
areas that need urgent attention especially gender-based-violence (GBV), child
marriages, HIV in new borns, non-communicable diseases (NCDS) and sustainable
empowerment of women and youth. We need to accelerate and move with speed in
addressing these issues.”
The First Lady said since OAFLAD previously named
Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/Aids (OAFLA), was formed with
emphasis on HIV and Aids elimination, most countries have realised success in
varying degrees particularly in new cases of HIV infection. “However, in terms
of access and usage of antiretroviral therapy and medication, there has been
challenges ranging from inadequacy leading to inconsistency in adherence,” she
said.
She added that the change from OAFLA to OAFLAD came at the
realisation that without sustainable development, the war against HIV would
never be won. “This realisation calls for all of us First Ladies to move away
from ‘business as usual approach’ and start focusing on agendas 2030 and 2063
respectively,” Amai Mnangagwa said.
In order to achieve their goals as OAFLAD, the First Lady
proposed that they set targets for each other and the organisation to help
member states in monitoring progress of implementation of projects and
programmes.
She also suggested that the organisation “initiate and
encourage interregional learning exchange visits by OAFLAD member First Ladies.
“I am also proposing the convening of General Assembly sessions by First Ladies
on their own without having to rely on events of heads of State as side
events,” she said.
Building of synergies with private sector under a strategic
partnership model as well as strengthening where partnership already existed to
ensure that much needed resources were unlocked, was another proposal she
highlighted.
Amai Mnangagwa called for unity among the OAFLAD members
for the development of the continent adding that she would advocate for all
members to learn French and English to bridge the communication barrier between
Anglophone and Francophone countries. Herald
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