Women, Peace, and Security News archive: Southern Africa
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2007 Southern Africa News Archive

Zimbabwe: 'Girl Power' Flies Out of the Window
December 13, 2007 – (AllAfrica) IMAGINE the year is 2008 and the President of Zimbabwe is a woman, the Speaker of Parliament is a woman, the mayors of all towns are women, the Finance Minister is a "she" and the Chief Justice is also a woman.

Zimbabwe: 'Increase Budgetary Allocation Towards Gender Programmes'
December 11, 2007 – (AllAfrica) A parliamentary committee has urged the Government to increase its budgetary allocation towards gender mainstreaming programmes.

Angolan soldiers accused of 'systematic' rape
December 6, 2007 - (Mail&Guardian) Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said this week that Angolan soldiers have raped, beaten and tortured illegal Congolese migrant workers before deporting them across the border.

South Africa: More Must Be Done to Report Abuse
December 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Withdrawn rape and domestic violence cases and false reports of abuse are some of the problems hindering the justice system's response to gender based violence.

Namibia: Activists Challenge Swapo On Women Representation
December 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Gender activists have expressed disappointment at the Swapo Party's failure to make their newly elected leadership at least 50 percent women.

South Africa: Women March for Equal Representation in Govt
December 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Hundreds of women brought traffic in the capital to a standstill on Wednesday as they marched to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum demanding an equal gender representation in all state sectors.

Zambia: Gender-Based Violence Fuels HIV – Speaker
December 4, 2007 – (AllAfrica) SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa says gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS are interlinked as their major cause is mostly unequal gender relations influenced by social and cultural factors.

Namibia: Women in Swapo End Up the Biggest Losers
December 3, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Women in Swapo were the biggest losers at the just-ended congress despite promises that they would have better representation at all top levels of the party.

South Africa: Violence Against Women Undermines Democracy
December 2, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Social Development Deputy Minister Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs says incidences of violence and abuse directed at women and children are a betrayal to the struggle for freedom and democracy.

Zambia: State to Address Gender Violence
November 27, 2007 – (AllAfrica) PRESIDENT Mwanawasa says the Government will enact laws and domesticate relevant international conventions to address gender-based violence.

Zimbabwe: 1000 Woza Members Mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
November 27, 2007 – (AllAfrica) In a surprise move that caught the police unaware, about 1,000 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise marched through the central district of Bulawayo on Tuesday to mark the beginning of '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.'

Zambia: Women Should Unite, Rise as One
November 26, 2007 – (AllAfrica) WOMEN have a lot to play in enhancing any nation's growth. Many times, women have looked down on themselves without realising the great potential they possess in contributing to the socio-economic developement of a country.

Angola: Society Mobilised Against Gender Violence
November 26, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Angolan society has as of late getting more and more mobilised in the fight against gender violence, its social consequences in the country and in the defence of women's rights.

Namibia: Hardap the Springboard for Women Activism
November 19, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Following a series of notorious murders of women by the highly elusive 'B1 Butcher' and with many of the victims coming from the south, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has chosen Hardap for 16 Days of Activism.

South Africa: Million Men's March to Highlight 16 Days
November 19, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The planned Million Men marches scheduled to be held across the country during 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, will be the highlight of the campaign.

Angola: Family Ministry Opens Gender, Development Seminar
November 19, 2007 – (AllAfrica) An upgrading seminar on gender and development for personnel of the Ministry of Family and Women Promotion (Minfamu) opened Monday in Luanda during a session chaired by the national director for Promotion and Coordination, Margarida Ulissavo.

South Africa: Mentorship Plan to Empower Women Councillors
November 11, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Gauteng's Mentorship programme is to empower women councillors to take their rightful place in the local government sphere and assert themselves. Gauteng Local Government MEC Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu will unveil the programme on Tuesday at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Zimbabwe: Over 90 Woza Activists Arrested And Released in Tuesday Demo
November 7, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Over 90 activists from women's pressure group WOZA and its male wing MOZA were arrested on Tuesday in Harare before being released the same day in the evening. The group was protesting over a variety of issues including unaffordable school fees, power and water shortages and escalating state sponsored violence against pro-democracy activists.

Namibia: Women Plan Special March
November 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) It will be all colour along independence avenue when hundreds of Namibian women from all walks of life for the first time ever stage a "Women's Celebratory March" in the capital.

South Africa: SA Men's Forum Outline Gender Challenges
October 17, 2007 - (AllAfrica) Lack of coordination, resistance from traditional and religious leaders and commitment from the private sector is hampering efforts to achieve gender equality, according to the South African Men's Forum.

ZIMBABWE: State violence targets women says report
October 12, 2007 – (IRIN) In a preliminary report detailing widespread state violence, including the torture and the unlawful detention of its members, a Zimbabwean social movement is warning southern Africa's political leaders to temper their optimism about the country's prospect of free and fair elections next year.

Zimbabwe: Ministry to Train Government Officials on Gender Budgeting
October 4, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Ministry of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development will soon train senior Government officials on gender budgeting as part of efforts to make budgeting systems in various institutions gender responsive, an official has said.

Zimbabwe: Ministry Spearheads Projects for Women
October 2, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Government is committed to improving the standards of living for women in Zimbabwe through self-help projects to fight drought-induced hunger and poverty in rural areas, the Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, has said.

Zimbabwe: 'Empower Women, Youths'
September 25, 2007 – (AllAfrica) There is need to empower and youths in society if sustainable peace is to be attained, former Mozambican president Mr Joachim Chissano has said. Mr Chissano said failure to empower the poor members of society like women and youths would be a source of conflict in any society.

South Africa: Women, the state and Africa
September 21, 2007 - (Pambazuka News) Amina Mama writes, As South Africa debates the political challenges associated with the ANC’s year-end conference at Polokwane, this is perhaps a good moment to think beyond immediate struggles and to consider what women have achieved beyond the borders of this country.

Zimbabwe: Agitate for Removal of Sanctions, Women Urged
September 20, 2007 – (AllAfrica) ZIMBABWEAN women should rise and rally behind the Government and agitate for the removal of the illegal sanctions that are hurting everyone regardless of political, social or religious affiliation, a recently formed women's organisation has said.

Botswana: What of Women in Politics?
September 20, 2007 (AllAfrica) There will be no special dispensation for women as political parties go to the primaries in preparation for the 2009 general elections putting into doubt the parties' commitment to women, empowerment.

Zimbabwe: State Embarks on Women Empowerment Programme
September 17, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Cde Oppah Muchinguri last week said Government had embarked on a massive project to empower and promote women for sustainable development through self-help projects.

South Africa: NW Women Talk Empowerment with Vietnamese
September 14, 2007 - (AllAfrica) The North West legislature committee will on Saturday jet off to Vietnam for an eight-day visit to learn about women empowerment, domestic violence and HIV and AIDS.

South Africa: Gender Audit to Assess Water, Forestry Projects
September 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is conducting a gender analysis audit, to assess the efficacy of their programmes specifically for women.

Southern Africa: SADC Summit Postpones Signing of Gender Protocol
September 4, 2007 – (AllAfrica) SADC leaders have deferred the signing of the Protocol on Gender and Development because some member states need more time to conclude internal consultations following late changes to the document.

South Africa: Time to Help Women Up to the Bench
September 3, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Some time last year, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Brigitte Mabandla, whispered into my ear and that of my colleagues who constitute the heads of courts, that funding could be found for a project to train women so as to accelerate their appointment to judicial positions.

Malawi: Vice President Chilumpha states women's empowerment crucial to good governance
September 1, 2007 – (WLUML) "The theme of this year’s Ijtima was “Moslem Women Participation in Good Governance and Decision Making” and drew over 3 000 attendees from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe." (AfricanPath)

Botswana: Why Defer SADC Gender Protocol? Asks Tlale
August 24, 2007 - (AllAfrica) The Executive Secretary of the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), Baboloki Tlale, has expressed disappointment that the SADC Draft Protocol on Gender and Development has been deferred so some member countries could go and consult.

Angola:Talks On Gender This Month in Cacuaco, Cazenga Districts
August 21, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Talks about civic education relating to gender are taking place throughout the month of August at Luanda's Cazenga and Cacuaco districts, promoted by the Angolan non-governmental organisation League of Sports, Culture and Environment (Lideca), ANGOP has learnt.

South Africa: Govt to Train Women as Judges
August 15, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The South African Judiciary has designed a special programme to train women in the judicial field to increase the number of women judges in the country.

South africa: KZN Women Fill the Seats of Power
August 9, 2007 – (AllAfrica) KwaZulu-Natal province has put more women into positions of power as part of the national drive to give them the opportunity to play a role in decision making processes.

South Africa: All Should Empower Women, says Mbeki
August 9. 2007 – (AllAfrica) President Thabo Mbeki called all South Africans to contribute to the emancipation of women.

Namibia: MPs to Visit Otjozondjupa
August 6, 2007 – (AllAfrica) A 10-member delegation from Parliament will undertake an extensive tour of the Otjozondjupa Region to familiarise themselves with gender issues and other social matters.

SOuth Africa: MMP Challenges Media On Women's Month
August 3, 2007 – (AllAfrica) August is Women's Month in South Africa. As usual, media outlets - broadcast, print and digital - across the country have already started dedicating entire pages to 'women's issues'.

Angola: Women Development Association Holds Seminar
June 26, 2007 - (AllAfrica) The Association for the Development of Women (ADM) in the northern Cabinda province is holding a seminar aimed at outlining working strategies with other national Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Angola: Zaire - Women Participation in Society Under Debate
June 22, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Electoral Network in Angola's northern province of Zaire will run a conference on role of women in the society, from June 25-26, in Mbanza Congo, says a press note delivered to Angop.

Namibia: Government to Tackle Gender-Based Violence
June 14, 2007 - (The Namibian) VIOLENCE against women and girls will be tackled head-on and the line ministry has set up a national database to determine the root causes of violence, a Government Minister says.

Namibia: New Plans for San Women
June 12 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has revealed plans to establish an association for the San women in different communities.

South Africa: 8WAMM to Increase Funding On Gender Equality
June 3 2007 – (AllAfrica) The upcoming 8th Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM) is set to focus on funding and support to Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working on gender equality.

Namibia: Victims to Recount Bashings
May 08, 2007 - (New Era) Namibians will for the first time hear the views of those accused of perpetrating gender violence while victims will recount their ordeals at the first ever-national conference on gender-based violence to be held in Windhoek next month.

Angola: Zim, Angola Sign Security Co-Operation Accord
March 19, 2007 – (The Herald) Zimbabwe and Angola have signed a public order and security cooperation agreement to deal with human trafficking; money laundering and counterfeiting; drug trafficking; and illegal trafficking of firearms, explosives and ammunition. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare last week, Home Affairs Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi said the agreement was an indication of the friendly relations that exist between the two countries.

Angola: Uije: Women Promote Electoral Registration Campaign
March 1, 2007 – (Angola Press) A door-to-door sensitising campaign of women with electoral potential will be conducted in coming days by the provincial sector of the Family and Women Promotion Ministry in northern Uije Province. The move aims at encouraging massive participation of women in registration in various communities of the region.

South Africa: Group Calls For More Research On Sexual Violence
February 5, 2007 – (Irin) Though sexual violence affects millions around the world every year, deeply entrenched cultural taboos and a lack of political leadership have historically left the issue largely unrecognised in government boardrooms, health ministries, and scientific research. But that may change, as an emerging global initiative argues sexual violence is a legitimate public health and human rights issue that warrants its own research, prevention, and interventions.