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That was the theme of last night's Gala dinner organised the  THE ASSOCATION OF SPOUSES OF AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSINONERS AND  AMBASSADORS at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

Amongst the glitz and glamour was a very serious message delivered by the First lady of Zambia. African women are the back bone of the economic development of any African  nation. There are obstacles in the way that must be addressed, including HIV and Aids, poor literacy and education, access to the market, domestic violence equality access to legal process, land and financial independence!

I was fortunate to be at this event as this message is very close to my and is the basis of my business. It was indeed heartening to see tha the issue has been taken up by the diplomats. Examples of what  has been acheived thus far were highlighted specifically taht representaion by women on governign councils such as OAU (Organisation of African Unity) and above all the fact that there is a lot of work to do!

So what do you think? Do  African women deserve special treatment? Are they indeed the bone of the Economic development of African nations? If you think so why?

I think that true development in Africa would need the supporting factors of both men and women.  Special treatment, I don't know about what special treatment would be needed.  I support my wife in any business choices that she makes as we discuss the positives and negatives of the situation.  There needs to be a foundation of empowerment in the family, neighborhood and community.  Develop and encouraging others, creating positive role models, giving hope.  Women do have a better sense of taking care of the family, and in many cases, women who have businesses are run more efficient because of the need to take care of the family.  To a woman, due to the maternal instincts, will take care of the family and put more motivation on working the business. 

MM- many thanks for your thoughts. I acknowledge your stance on joint decision making and inclduing your wife in business decisions that affect the family unit. Sadly not all women are in that fortunate situation and then they are those that have been abandoned by the fathers of their children altogether!

Support for families is paramount in all of this but we ahve to agree that circumstances where women are for instance still treated as personal property should be addressed. I know a woman who had a job for a private company in Kampala, well paid job at that, but hubby would not elt her got to work and locked her in thee bedroom. clever woman jumped through the window and reported to work, this went on until hubby gave up, a few years later her's was the only income in the household