President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s former Vice-President Dr Speciosa Kazibwe have agreed on the need to strengthen mentorship among women leaders and expand women’s participation in leadership and decision-making across Africa. The agreement emerged during talks held at State House in Dar es Salaam. The discussions highlighted the importance of solidarity among women leaders and creating opportunities for younger generations to take up leadership roles.
Dr Kazibwe served as Uganda’s Vice-President from 1994 to 2003, becoming the first woman in Africa to hold the office. President Dr Samia, Tanzania’s first female Head of State, has consistently advocated greater participation of women in leadership at national, regional and continental levels. The two leaders exchanged views on how women leaders can play a greater role in decision-making, while promoting sustainable social development.
Despite gains over the past three decades, women remain underrepresented in political leadership across Africa. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women occupy 27.1 per cent of parliamentary seats in Sub-Saharan Africa, while East Africa records one of the continent’s strongest performances at 32.1 per cent. Progress at the highest levels of power remains slower, with women leading only 25 countries worldwide as Heads of State or Government.
The meeting between President Samia and Dr Kazibwe reflects the growing focus on mentorship as a way of expanding the pipeline of women entering senior leadership positions across the continent. Since assuming office in 2021, President Samia has expanded women’s presence in senior decision-making positions through appointments to key state institutions. Women now hold more cabinet positions than before her administration, including strategic portfolios such as Defence and Foreign Affairs.
UN Women says Tanzania ranks among Africa’s leading countries for women’s political representation, with women making up about 37 per cent of the National Assembly and around 36 per cent of cabinet positions. This progress is significant, but more work remains to be done to achieve gender parity in leadership positions. Dr Kazibwe’s trailblazing role continues to inspire younger generations of women leaders across Africa.
Dr Kazibwe championed women’s participation in governance, reproductive health and girls’ education during her tenure as Uganda’s Vice-President. She became a prominent advocate for opening decision-making spaces to women long before gender parity became a mainstream continental agenda. Her legacy continues to inspire women leaders across Africa.
The discussions between President Samia and Dr Kazibwe highlighted the need to nurture future women leaders through mentorship as African countries continue working to increase women’s representation in governance and public leadership. The two leaders emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for younger generations to take up leadership roles and promote sustainable social development.
Key points
- President Samia and Dr Kazibwe agreed on the need to strengthen mentorship among women leaders.
- Women remain underrepresented in political leadership across Africa, occupying 27.1 per cent of parliamentary seats in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Tanzania ranks among Africa’s leading countries for women’s political representation, with women making up about 37 per cent of the National Assembly.
