Thelma Seitshiro

The Pan Afrikanist

The Role of African Women in Anchoring Sustainability in the Socio-Economic Development Agenda in Africa was placed under the microscope during a one day physical and virtual Pan African Women’s Forum hosted by Conversation With Africa on the 18^th of August 2022.

This forum brought together women of power from different sectors of the economy and leadership positions, as well as entrepreneurs who got the chance to set up their stalls and promote their products and services.

Among them was the guest of honour, Minster of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of Botswana, H.E Thaninga Shope – Soumah, the Chancellor of the Botswana Open University Professor Sheila Tlou, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Botswana H.E. Mrs Wosilat Abimbola Adedeji, Kgosikgolo of Balete Kgosi Mosadi Seboko and more.

When opening the forum, the CEO of Conversation With Africa, Neo Tlhaselo, said that Conversation With Africa has seen exponential growth since its inception in 2018. The forum was set up with the aim of having conversations which influence and inform policies and law.

Tlhaselo said the contributions of the women who attended this forum would be shared with their partners and stakeholders in Dar es Salaam in September.

In his opening remarks, Phandu Skelemani, the Speaker of Botswana’s Parliament, mentioned that gender based violence is one of the reasons why women are lagging behind, and that it should be stopped.

He said that women should be engaged and included more in parliament.

For her part the High Commissioner of South Africa to Botswana, H.E Thaninga Shope – Soumah pointed out that women should be included in decision making policies in order to achieve sustainability in socioeconomic development in Africa.

The guest of honour, Minster of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said that women have been and continue to anchor parts of development and economic freedom.

She pointed that one of the main concerns is financial restraints for women to run successful businesses, adding that this should be corrected with women being dealt the same resources as men so as to have a better and fair start.

Dr Zuma was announced as the patron of Conversation With Africa Pan African Women’s Forum.

Professor Sheila Tlou urged the government to adopt policies that embrace gender equality as a pathway for sustainable development.

Other themes that were discussed at the forum included overview of policy frameworks for women empowerment, access to finance, digital tools for women in trade in post Covid 19 era and educating the girl-child.

On access to finance, most participants concured with H.E Mrs Wosilat Abimbola Adedeji that financial accessibility is indeed the bedrock of sustainability and that women should therefore be exposed more to financial education.

Digital tools were said to have transformed how businesses are being run because they created a digital space and platform for everyone to be able to run their businesses on a global e-commerce platform and reach out to a wider market.

When wrapping up the sessions, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko said that special attention needs to be focused on educating the girl-child.

For her part the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Philda Kereng said that education is key as it gives confidence, access to information and choices, and empowers an individual to believe that they have what it takes to be what they want.

She acknowledged and appreciated the government of Botswana for giving equal access to education for both genders.

The forum ended with a toast, and hopefully has empowered the participating women to go and conquer the world by applying what they had leant from the discussions of the day through change implementation.