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Tendai Rupapa in LUANDA, Angola

In an unprecedented empowerment drive, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has transformed lives and fostered prosperity for generations to come through empowering communities, promoting gender equality, fighting gender-based violence and promoting good health and quality education while accelerating efforts to close the gender gap which is essential for economic progress.

These are also the key pillars of the #WeAreEqual campaign, an initiative of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) aimed at inspiring collective actions to bridge the disparities between men and women.

It is the First Lady’s vision that closing the gender gap in Zimbabwe and Africa at large, is not doing women and girls a favour, but is about doing the right thing.

Her prayer as the mother of the nation, is for families and communities to treat girls and boys, men and women as equals.

Dr Mnangagwa was invited to Angola by her counterpart Dr Ana Dias Lourenço for the launch of the #WeAreEqual campaign, joining the league of nations that have launched the campaign. 

Amai Mnangagwa launched the same campaign in Zimbabwe last year which is OAFLAD’s solidarity movement aimed at addressing gender inequality in Africa in the sectors of health, education and economic empowerment.

Dr Mnangagwa gave guests in Luanda a glimpse into the vast array of activities she is doing in Zimbabwe through her Angel of Hope Foundation to promote gender equality and dismantle perceptions on the presence of gender-specific roles in the new world order.

The mother of the nation highlighted that she is providing equal opportunities for all, including awarding scholarships to both female and male learners.

The event was officially opened by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

In his keynote address yesterday, President Lourenco paid tribute to OAFLAD for the campaign which he said boded well for the development and transformation of Africa.

Angolan President João Lourenco addresses delegates during the launch of #WeAre Equal” campaign in Luanda, Angola, yesterday.

“We are pleased to launch the #WeAreEqual campaign in Angola under the theme: “Education for Gender Equality and the Fight against Child and Youth Violence.” This is a challenging topic in these times due to its relevance and opportunity, when it is increasingly addressed at the level of the societies in which we are inserted and at the level of global society, the issue of equality can be seen from different angles but always with the same concern, which consists of not establishing differences that leave one or the other out, thus unfairly creating pockets of disadvantaged and marginalised people.

President Lourenco challenged participants to the conference to seek to identify and gently define methodologies that can help seek to identify and jointly define the tools and methodologies that can help to bridge disparities.

“Among which I highlight the kind that still persists in the world in general and on our continent in particular, through an open and inclusive dialogue, which can help to build a clear and converging vision on the paths we still have to take to guarantee the building of societies where women and girls can feel included in circumstances of absolute equality,” he said.

He added that by educating children, both boys and girls, about the importance of gender equality, people will be establishing the foundations for a more equitable and inclusive society.

In a speech read on her behalf by National Aids Council Chief Executive Dr Benard Madzima who is also the technical advisor.

Dr Bernard Madzima who was representing First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and Dr Angela Mushavi follow proceedings during the launch of #WeAreEqual campaign in Angola yesterday.

Dr Mnangagwa paid tribute to Mrs Lourenco for inviting her to Angola’s launch of the magnificent programme.

“I bring you warm greetings from my country Zimbabwe. I wish to thank you Your Excellency, for extending this invitation to me to participate in the launch of the OAFLAD #WeAreEqual campaign here in Angola. I am most grateful noting that only a few weeks ago you were also in Zimbabwe with me attending the United Nations Tourism Regional Forum for Gastronomy for Africa. This collaboration between and among African countries can only strengthen us as we share ideas and learn from each other,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa said she admired the work that Mrs Lourenco was doing in tackling the very difficult subject of educating communities on Gender Equality to fight Child and Youth Violence. 

“This is an opportunity to sensitise your community about the importance of tackling Gender Based Violence. This resonates with the 28th OAFLAD General Assembly which was held in Addis Ababa in February 2024 whose theme was ‘Educate Her and Transform Africa: Enhancing access to Health and Education for the 21st Century’s Africa Women and Girls,” she said.

The mother of the nation had words of praise for the OAFLAD Secretariat.

“I would like to applaud the OAFLAD Secretariat for setting the tone and working on programmes which recognise the importance of tackling socio-economic and health issues which affect young people and women in Africa.

“Fighting gender based violence is the basis of any development programme. I want to appreciate your commitment to the OAFLAD’s continual #WeAreEqual campaign and rallying behind the call to “close the gender gap in Africa”. You are really fighting to end GBV in Angola. Due to GBV, the girl child ends up in situations of poverty, teenage pregnancy, early marriages and the cycle continues from generation to generation. I’m happy your work will help break this cycle,” she said.

Ending gender-based violence, Dr Mnangagwa observed, has tremendous benefits to health, economy and development of any country. 

“It drives economic progress for all. We owe it to future generations. Your work in ending GBV should resonate across the country. In Zimbabwe, I have also done the same and launched the #WeAreEqual campaign as a pre-ICASA event in 2023, as my country also grapples with GBV and gender inequality. At the same event I also launched the Global Alliance to end AIDS among children by 2030, and expand the benefits of having an HIV and AIDS free generation of children. I took the opportunity to interact with both women and men, and challenged the community to embrace the drive to make women and men truly equal. I have been actively involved in the Merck Foundation Educating Linda programme in my country and have to date supported young girls to acquire an education. I wish to enroll more girls into this programme. Beyond this, I also provide scholarships for both boys and girls coming from challenging environments in both rural and urban areas I do this work through the Angel of Hope Foundation, a charitable organisation I founded in 2018,” she said.

As the host, Dr Lourenco said if each of the #WeAreEqual campaign pillars, health, education, economic empowerment and GBV were put together, they could engender the development of all nations across the globe.

Angolan First Lady Dr Anna Dias Laurenco launches the # WeAreEqual” campaign in Luanda, Angola yesterday.

“In Angola, the campaign which we are launching today emphasises education as a priority for the empowerment of women and aims to promote sexual and reproductive health of young people, protecting children and ultimately to allow for an equal society,” she said.

Youth violence, she said, was a social problem that disproportionately affected women, girls and boys impacting various lives. It affects physical and mental health of people.

Speaking at the same occasion, Nigerian First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the theme of the campaign was dear to her heart since its vision was the cornerstone of any progressive society and plays a pivotal role in achieving gender equity which is essential for preventing violence among children and women. 

“Child and youth violence is a pervasive issue that concerns policy, cultures and economic frameworks. It manifests in various forms from physical, emotional abuse, bullying and systemic discrimination. At the heart of many of these issues lies gender equity, inequality, stereotypes and societal norms that value one gender over others. As mothers are the child’s first teachers, we must educate and empower youth to speak up and speak out against violence and foster a sense of empathy and compassion towards one another,” she said.