Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute Celebrates Women
By Vusi Moloi © 2011
Women are the main engines of Africa’s growth. Statistical evidence shows that women comprise 50% of Africa’s farmers and 70% of production workers in the structure of Africa’s economy. For this reason, women should not see themselves as victims but agents of change. These are the powerful expressions of a Senegalese Dr. Yassin Fall of the UN Women Research and Economics Advisor to the United Nations. Dr. Fall was giving a keynote address at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute at the University of South Africa in Tshwane on Tuesday. This fanfare event was celebrating 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. A German fighter on behalf of women’s rights Clara Zetkin began this day of women’s celebration when the movement for international women’s celebration was first begun on March 8, 1911.
African Woman Contributing More
Dr. Fall decried the fact that an African woman was contributing more to the economy than she was recognized for because most of her work fell under the classification of unpaid labour even though her labour was critical to the functioning of society like caring for the sick so that someone else is able to go to work and the economic functions of society are not interrupted. The high degree of poverty in society also meant a greater extent of unpaid labour that is consequently not counted towards the GDP. Part of the problem is that the Western models of economic analysis (strongly embraced by African leaders) only consider quantifiable labour as a valid economic activity. This calls for modern African women to take a bigger role in the policy making decisions so that the kinds of policies developed can be truly reflective of Africa’s real needs. The innovation and fresh thinking in economic policy will come from talking to the African women who are bearing the brunt of economic disadvantage.
Outsiders Prescribe To Africa
For the longest time, Africans have had their economic policies prescribed and modeled after the European systems even though most of Africa’s economic activities were not market based (something that requires Africans to evolve their own economic methodologies). As a result, the alien models were not addressing real African economic needs. Another paradox is that the kinds of economic models that Western societies had been prescribing to Africa were suddenly not applicable to European economies and instead these prescriptive foreign powers were themselves throwing away what they had imposed on Africa and instead pursuing stimulus packages that essentially were Keynesian models designed to create and resuscitate aggregate demand in the market economy. Leaders like President Obama and his predecessor President George Bush, among others, implemented these Keynesian policies.
Women Must Refuse To Take Prescriptions
This calls for women to take a stand and to refuse to be prescribed to while excluded from the decision-making structures. The women must take an active role in the decision-making, Dr. Fall told the captive audience.
Response To The Keynote Address
In her response to Dr. Fall’s keynote address, Dr. Mbambo Thata, Executive Director of E-Knowledge Society for Women in Southern Africa, underscored the importance and relevance of Dr. Fall’s challenge to the women and pointed out it was not enough for women to participate in the decision making structures of policy makers but it was equally imperative for the rules of engagement to be changed in order to effect a favourable outcome. Otherwise, participating in decision-making under the same status quo rules would not lead to a different outcome.
A number of powerful movers and shakers made similarly powerful presentations like Ms. Cecilee Phatudi, CEO of Eternal Park and Founder Women with Purpose who spoke with fervor about womanhood, equal opportunity with men and not competition with men and the critical importance of ethics and values; Dr. Anniekie Ravhudzulo of UNISA Women’s Forum; and Dr. Thandi Ndlovu.
The Program Director of the event was Dr. Maureen Tong who is Head of Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute and Dr. Annikie Ravhudzulo. Dr. Tong opened the event and welcomed the audience while Dr. Ravhudzulo introduced the speakers. Professor Shadrack Gutto of the Institute for African Renaissance Studies at UNISA gave a vote of thanks.
The Gracious Former President Thabo Mbeki
The former President Mr. Thabo Mbeki together with his wife Zanele was in attendance along with a number of people who served under his administration. Dignitaries including former ambassadors were also in attendance. The forever graceful Thabo Mbeki was a heartwarming presence at this auspicious gathering and this writer was honoured with his autograph.
Women are the main engines of Africa’s growth. Statistical evidence shows that women comprise 50% of Africa’s farmers and 70% of production workers in the structure of Africa’s economy. For this reason, women should not see themselves as victims but agents of change. These are the powerful expressions of a Senegalese Dr. Yassin Fall of the UN Women Research and Economics Advisor to the United Nations. Dr. Fall was giving a keynote address at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute at the University of South Africa in Tshwane on Tuesday. This fanfare event was celebrating 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. A German fighter on behalf of women’s rights Clara Zetkin began this day of women’s celebration when the movement for international women’s celebration was first begun on March 8, 1911.
African Woman Contributing More
Dr. Fall decried the fact that an African woman was contributing more to the economy than she was recognized for because most of her work fell under the classification of unpaid labour even though her labour was critical to the functioning of society like caring for the sick so that someone else is able to go to work and the economic functions of society are not interrupted. The high degree of poverty in society also meant a greater extent of unpaid labour that is consequently not counted towards the GDP. Part of the problem is that the Western models of economic analysis (strongly embraced by African leaders) only consider quantifiable labour as a valid economic activity. This calls for modern African women to take a bigger role in the policy making decisions so that the kinds of policies developed can be truly reflective of Africa’s real needs. The innovation and fresh thinking in economic policy will come from talking to the African women who are bearing the brunt of economic disadvantage.
Outsiders Prescribe To Africa
For the longest time, Africans have had their economic policies prescribed and modeled after the European systems even though most of Africa’s economic activities were not market based (something that requires Africans to evolve their own economic methodologies). As a result, the alien models were not addressing real African economic needs. Another paradox is that the kinds of economic models that Western societies had been prescribing to Africa were suddenly not applicable to European economies and instead these prescriptive foreign powers were themselves throwing away what they had imposed on Africa and instead pursuing stimulus packages that essentially were Keynesian models designed to create and resuscitate aggregate demand in the market economy. Leaders like President Obama and his predecessor President George Bush, among others, implemented these Keynesian policies.
Women Must Refuse To Take Prescriptions
This calls for women to take a stand and to refuse to be prescribed to while excluded from the decision-making structures. The women must take an active role in the decision-making, Dr. Fall told the captive audience.
Response To The Keynote Address
In her response to Dr. Fall’s keynote address, Dr. Mbambo Thata, Executive Director of E-Knowledge Society for Women in Southern Africa, underscored the importance and relevance of Dr. Fall’s challenge to the women and pointed out it was not enough for women to participate in the decision making structures of policy makers but it was equally imperative for the rules of engagement to be changed in order to effect a favourable outcome. Otherwise, participating in decision-making under the same status quo rules would not lead to a different outcome.
A number of powerful movers and shakers made similarly powerful presentations like Ms. Cecilee Phatudi, CEO of Eternal Park and Founder Women with Purpose who spoke with fervor about womanhood, equal opportunity with men and not competition with men and the critical importance of ethics and values; Dr. Anniekie Ravhudzulo of UNISA Women’s Forum; and Dr. Thandi Ndlovu.
The Program Director of the event was Dr. Maureen Tong who is Head of Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute and Dr. Annikie Ravhudzulo. Dr. Tong opened the event and welcomed the audience while Dr. Ravhudzulo introduced the speakers. Professor Shadrack Gutto of the Institute for African Renaissance Studies at UNISA gave a vote of thanks.
The Gracious Former President Thabo Mbeki
The former President Mr. Thabo Mbeki together with his wife Zanele was in attendance along with a number of people who served under his administration. Dignitaries including former ambassadors were also in attendance. The forever graceful Thabo Mbeki was a heartwarming presence at this auspicious gathering and this writer was honoured with his autograph.
Labels: Women
posted by Vusi Moloi at
3:06 PM
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