Dar to host First Ladies summit

kbm · 2013-06-22T18:25:16+00:00

= = = = Dar es Salaam. For the first time Tanzania will host the First African Ladies summit, to be attended by US First Lady MicheleObama and some former first ladies from the US and Britain. The summit, scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam from July 2 to 3, is being applauded by a cross-section of Tanzanian womenwho see it as special opportunity to share progressiveideas and an indication of Tanzanias acceptability at the international level. According to a statement released by the Tanzania Information Services (Maelezo), African First Ladies from across the continent will gather at the George W. Bush Institutes African First Ladies Summit. The summit, which is set to bring together at least eight wives of African Heads of State, whose theme is: Investing in Women, Strengthening Africa. It has been established that among other things, the Summitwill focus on the important role that First Ladies playin promoting womens education, health and economic empowerment. With the support from ExxonMobil, the Summit will bring together African First Ladies, government officials, private organisations, NGOs and academics to discuss best practices, particularly within public-private partnerships that can reap sustainable, replicable results, benefit women and strengthen society, reads part of the statement. The former US president, Mr George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are expected to deliver keynote speeches at the Summit. From outside the continent, the summit will be attended by the current US First Lady, Mrs Michelle Obama, former wife of the British Prime Minister Mrs Cherie Blair and the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control, Ms Nancy G. Brinker. Others in the list are: Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Mr Mark Dybul, the Co-Founder and CEO, KickStart International, Dr Martin Fisher, President of Merck vaccines, Dr Julie Gerberding, President of ExxonMobil Foundation, Ms Suzanne McCarron, the Ambassador, Office of Global Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State, Ms Leslie Rowe and Executive Director, Unaids, Undersecretary-General of the United Nations, Ms MichelSidibé African First Ladies whose attendance has been confirmed are: Ms Chantal Campaore (Burkina Faso) Ms Roman Tesfaye(Ethiopia) Ms Maria daLuz Dai Guebuza (Mozambique) Ms PenehupifoPohamba (Namibia) and Ms Sia Nyama Koroma (Sierra Leone). Others include the host, Mama Salma, Ms Janet Kataaha Museveni (Uganda) and Ms Christine Kaseba (Zambia). Issues to be presented and discussed include empowering women entrepreneurs through training and technology, providing opportunities and improving agricultural outcomesfor female farmers and a life-saving collaboration to combat cervical and breast Cancer. The First Ladies will also discuss critical interventions in education by going through the state of literacy, access to education and teacher training as well as the need to invest in womens economic empowerment, health and education in general. Commenting on the importance of the summit to Tanzania women and wananchi at large, some women, mostly activists and politicians, told The Citizen that the meeting would open upTanzania womens minds and enable them to be heard and supported. Ms Jenista Mhagama (CCM- Peramiho MP), said it was a big respect for Tanzania to be the host of the high profiled meeting. She said meeting First Ladies from various countries of Africa and other from US and Europe would enable Tanzanians women, especially those in leadership positions to create a sense of confidence. Ms Mhagama who is also a parliamentary chairperson and ahead of the parliamentary committee for Community Development said the summit would boost economic activities and connect Tanzanians with international traders. This meeting will enable Tanzanian women to participatedirectly in dialogues with high profile people, they will exchange skills, ideas and address this will enable us to know a lot from them especially in education, health and economic related issues, said Ms Mhagama. The executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Dr Kijjo Bisimba said the meeting would attract Heads of State to listen to wananchis problems. She said since the Summit is set to discuss various issues and challenges facing women in the African countries and it is obvious Tanzanian leaders would be interestedto listen and later respond to such problems. We can use this opportunity as a platform to air our views, discuss our problems and share experiences; it is obvious that the presence of such leaders willdraw attention and enable us to be heard, she said. Dr Bisimba added that Tanzania women, especially the young, will learn a lot from people they regard as role models of their lives. She said: I am sure we will understand that sometimes these women do not speak on the basis of their first ladies titles, but as women who are touched by problems facing the society. The executive director of Tanzania gender networking programme (TNGP), Ms Usu Mallya, said the Summit would provide a good opportunity for Tanzania women to discuss various issues including the accountability in the First Ladiesinstitutions. She said Tanzanian women should use the opportunity to evaluate the differences among such institutions and those in Europe and what they have in common. The Summit will bring together people with different ideas, skills and outlooks; this will enable Tanzanians to know where they are and where they are heading, she said. Source: TheCitizen

Thread starter kbm
Start date Jun 22, 2013

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Dar to host First Ladies summit

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