The Sunday News
TWO young Zimbabwean ladies have been named among Africa’s most outstanding emerging women leaders, with the courage and commitment to lead and shape the future of the continent.
Twenty-five-year old Miss Sinqobile Ndlovu from Bulawayo and Miss Tafadzwa Bete Sasa who is now based in Zambia were named among Africa’s most outstanding emerging women leaders by the Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa (MILEAD) Fellows programme.
The MILEAD Fellows programme is an initiative aimed at leadership development and promotion of Africa’s most promising young women leaders.
Miss Ndlovu and Miss Sasa will, next month, join 26 other young ladies selected from other African countries, as this year’s MILEAD Fellows, for a three-week leadership training programme in Accra, Ghana.
After successfully completing the training programme the 28 young women will return to their respective countries where they are expected to initiate socio-economic development related projects.
In a statement released last week MILEAD said: “The Institute will serve as a platform for Fellows to cross-examine concepts of leadership in a broad African context, cultivate the skills and experiences necessary to occupy and excel in leadership positions, and gain knowledge on cutting-edge issues critical to African women and their communities.
“In addition to knowledge building lectures, skills-training workshops, team-building activities, role plays and other interactive activities. Fellows will be mentored by experienced and accomplished women leaders who are committed to supporting and nurturing the next generation of African women leaders”.
Miss Ndlovu will be representing Zimbabwe at the fellows programme, while her counterpart Miss Sasa, who is Zimbabwean by birth, will represent Zambia where she is currently based.
The two were selected to be part of the 28 young women taking part in this year’s edition of the fellowship programme from over 1 260 applicants from 42 countries.
Their selection followed exhibition of outstanding leadership potential, community service accomplishments, and commitment to the advancement of women in Africa.
Miss Ndlovu is the founder and director of a social entrepreneurial venture, Inclusive Mobilisation and Investment of Resources in AfriQa, which she set up in 2013.
Through her company, Miss Ndlovu is taking steps to translate social innovation business concepts into profitable, high impact investments which she believes will complement Government’s efforts to empower local communities and women.
In 2012 she was voted second runner up for Young Manager of the Year in the Zimbabwe Institute of Management Bulawayo region awards.
Miss Ndlovu told Sunday News that she was humbled by her selection to participate in the MILEAD Fellows programme, adding she hoped the programme would help her empower other young African women and enable them to participate more meaningfully in community life.
“I am truly humbled and proud to say that Tafadzwa and I are one of the 28 young women leaders selected from over 1 260 applicants from 42 countries. I hope the knowledge that we are going to get through the entire programme will help me be a better person and an asset to my community.
“I hope to be equipped with enough skills which I will also impart to other women in my community and help them participate meaningfully in community development,” she said.
Miss Sasa was selected to be part of this year’s MILEAD Fellows for her “remarkable track record as a vibrant young active citizen who is committed to empowering other young people to create the positive change they seek in their lives and communities,” the MILEAD statement reads.
She is working with Alchemy Women in Leadership Zambia, a national initiative dedicated to supporting a higher female representation in leadership in the workplace and the broader Zambian community where she is based.
Miss Sasa also works with Junior Chamber International (JCI) where she was awarded the JCI Zimbabwe 2014 Most Outstanding New member award.
She also worked with Toastmasters International where she has served as the Vice President Membership at Capital Toastmasters club.
A holder of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Human Resource Management from the Midlands State University in Gweru, Miss Sasa is also a member of the SAFAIDS regional young women leadership programme.
As part of her MILEAD work Miss Sasa will run projects she aptly named MiChange that aim to empower and promote young women in Zambia and transform their lives.
