STRONG WOMEN'S LEAGUE NEEDED TO FIGHT POVERTY

This is yesterday's post.

So typical - the men get to do all the fun stuff and the women must clean up the mess! Our erstwhile President tells the women not to worry about who is going to be elected next, but tha they should rather concentrate on the eradication of poverty and the solving of gender violence!

Perhaps he should follow his own advice!

Strong women's league needed to fight poverty
Johannesburg, South Africa
02 April 2007 09:17

A strong, vibrant and democratic African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) was needed to fight poverty and empower women throughout the country, ANCWL president Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Sunday. "We commit ourselves to building an ANCWL that becomes a beacon of hope and a symbol of unity through action and work within the community where we live," said Mapisa-Nqakula. She was addressing more than a thousand provincial delegates at the ANCWL national council in Esselen Park, Ekurhuleni. "We call for the establishment of a special women's fund to facilitate and fast track the total participation of women in the mainstream economy. "Mapisa-Nqakula said the fund, which could be sponsored by members of the league, will help empower underprivileged women and eradicate poverty. She also called for the establishment of an organisation that will oversee women's developmental programmes. "We call on the South African government through the president to establish [a] ministry of women's affairs, planning and coordination. This will ensure that all poverty eradication programmes will be effectively and efficiently developed, implemented and monitored," Mapisa-Nqakula said.

During their four-day national council, members of the ANCWL took a declaration to encourage active participation of young women in their structures, and ensure that there was 50% representation of women in decision-making bodies. The council was on Friday addressed by state President Thabo Mbeki, who urged them to forget about who would be the party's next president and focus on solving poverty and gender violence. - Sapa