Africa University :: News & Calendar

Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorations off on high note


Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash in 1961.

The Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Sten Rylander has re-affirmed his commitment to working with the government of Zimbabwe, amid recent claims in the independent media that he has “given up on Mugabe.”

Speaking at the launch of the Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative Week at Africa University in Mutare on 9 October, the ambassador highlighted that as the representative of the Swedish government in Zimbabwe, he is prepared to “work with the President of this country” in building bridges between Zimbabwe and the European Union.

Ambassador Rylander chronicled the Swedish policy of non-participation in military alliances and noted that his government has placed a high priority on the preservation of peace.

“Peace is more than just the absence of war, it is about transforming our societies and uniting our global community to work together for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world,” said Rylander.

In his remarks, Ambassador Rylander also highlighted Sweden’s long-standing commitment to and support for efforts to empower women. Issues pertaining to the marginalization of women are given high priority in his government’s policy–making processes.

“ Sweden recognizes that women’s equality is the cornerstone for sustainable peace and justice,” said Rylander.

Speaking at the same event, the Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Mrs. Abigail Damasane challenged participants to advocate for stronger participation of women in decision-making positions and processes and to also follow in the footsteps of former United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld, who was a very committed ambassador of peace and goodwill throughout his life.

“The equality of men and women remains the only precursor to a sustainable, just and developed society,” she said.

Mrs. Damasane focused her remarks on international legal instruments which have been adopted to secure women’s right to vote, protect non-combatant women in armed conflict, provide for more equitable access to education and health and increase the sharing of power and resources. She applauded the appointment of women to decision-making positions in countries such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Liberia and Mozambique. “We need to continue the process relentlessly to ensure our elevation is for posterity,” said Damasane.

The security of women, she noted, remains at the mercy of structural defects in society. As a result of patriarchy, women are still subject to negative cultural practices such as early and forced marriages, wife inheritance and female genital mutilation. “Even in the confines of their homes, women are still subject to violence and abuse” and there is need for laws which protect the rights of women, said Damasane.

A Zimbabwean response to these concerns is the Domestic Violence Bill, which is at its second reading in Parliament. It is an important legal instrument through which Zimbabwean women would be protected by law, noted Damasane. She urged Africa University’s students to lobby for the bill, saying

“I have no doubt that it (the Bill) will be passed into law in the very near future and every woman on this land will be protected against various forms of abuse.”

The Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe is co-hosting the Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative activities taking place at Africa University from the 9 th to the 13 th of October 2006. The week-long commemoration features seminars, cultural performances and major presentations from senior government officials, diplomats, academics and heads of organizations.

In his welcome remarks during the opening ceremonies, Africa University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Rukudzo Murapa emphasized his institution’s desire to serve as a focal point for expertise in issues of gender, peace and development.

The Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative Week 2006, he said, raises public awareness of these issues and provides the opportunity for serious reflection on current efforts to build sustainable peace and development in Africa. Seminar presentations over the course of the week will focus on peace-building efforts in Darfur, northern Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Also present at the event was the Africa Group of Ambassadors resident in Zimbabwe; HE De Lemos of Angola, HE Rear Admiral John K Gbenah of Ghana, HE Shiela Siwela of Zambia, HE K Nangulu of Namibia, and Former Prime Minister of Mali, Dr Soumana Sako who called for the greater intergration and co-operation of African states in order to achieve peace, an ideal which was greatly upheld by Dag Hammarsjkold.

SIDEBAR PIECE

Play’s hilarity masks serious commentary on women’s suffering

Owen Seda and Bekithemba Ntini’s production “Dance Peace Africa” left its audience in awe after a performance on the opening day of the Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative Week at Africa University. The pure theatrical prowess and vivid imageries brought to life by the cast proved to be both heart-rending and hilarious.

The two are from the University of Zimbabwe’s theatre arts department. Their dance-drama is described by Seda as a typical presentation of the power balances that exist in society today, which are tipped against women.

“Women are sidelined in issues such as war and violence, but the reality is that once you have sidelined women, you have violated everyone’s rights,” said Seda. He noted that women and children are often the most victimized in war situations and are later sidelined in peace-making processes and governance structures.

“Women have also never been able to seek legal recourse for many human rights abuses and these are some of the issues that the play raises,” he said.

“I laughed and cried,” said Tinevimbo Mtengwa, a final year student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. “This is a clear representation of the suffering that women go through in many aspects of their lives…many times the stories are never told and may never be heard.”

The theme for this year’s event is Peace, Leadership, Gender and Development in Africa. Among others, seminar presentations on peacebuilding efforts in Darfur and the DRC will form part of the discussions for the week.

Now in its second year running, the Dag Hammarskjöld commemoration, co-hosted by the Swedish Embassy and Africa University provides a platform for discussing issues of peace and development in Africa.