By Tendai Keith Guvamombe (MIDRAND JOHANNESBURG)
PAP President Urges African Women to Demand Change on Pan-African Women’s DayMIDRAND, South Africa – On a day dedicated to celebrating the contributions of women, Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President, Chief Fortune Charumbira, issued a powerful call to action.
Speaking at the commemoration of Pan-African Women’s Day 2025 in Midrand, South Africa, Charumbira challenged women to compile their recommendations on critical issues and present them to the African Union.
“This is the day we commemorate Women, not just women but their contributions they make to our societies,” Charumbira stated.
He emphasized the PAP’s role as a platform for all African citizens, ensuring every voice is heard, and encouraged women to use this opportunity to drive progress.
Charumbira highlighted a stark reality: despite making up a significant portion of Africa’s population, women hold only 25% of the estimated 10,000 parliamentary seats across the continent.
This means only 2,500 Members of Parliament are women, a statistic he said “shows that a lot still needs to be done.”
However, he pointed to countries like Namibia as a beacon of hope, which boasts over 50% women in parliament, including its President and Speaker of the House.
This example demonstrates that gender parity is achievable with the right political will and support.”Going forward, women need to support each other to promote the much-needed change,” Charumbira stressed, adding the popular adage, “if you want change it has to start with you.”
He also saluted men who joined the commemoration, acknowledging that women’s issues are also men’s issues, affecting all of society. The call to action is clear: African women must take the lead in shaping a more inclusive future for the continent.
