Mkapa: ICGLR empowers women

Former President, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa in a conversation with Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, at his office yesterday in Dar es Salaam. Ambassador Mulamula has recently finished her tenure as the first, former Executive Secretary of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

“The ICGLR has successfully elevated the profile of women and provided an important platform to women in their quest for empowerment in today’s society,” said former President, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa during his meeting with Ambassador Liberata Mulamula at his office yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

H.E. Mkapa congratulated Ambassador Mulamula on the successful and peaceful mission during her five year tenure as the former Executive Secretary of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). He said she has made Tanzania proud in promoting peace and security in the Great Lakes Region, adding that her successful mission has elevated women’s profile.

On her part, Ambassador Mulamula said her mission to start up the ICGLR Secretariat and lead the organisation through its infancy stage was not an easy assignment given the state of many countries at the time, especially Burundi, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, the rebellion in Burundi and the armed groups in Eastern DRC were the major challenges facing the ICGLR as a regional initiative for peace, stability and development.

Ambassador Mulamula praised particularly the efforts taken by the Regional leaders in supporting the Burundi peace process that enabled it to put an end to the rebellion in the country; joined the East African Community and held peaceful elections in 2010. The joining of EAC opens opportunities in investment, trade and tourism in this poorest nation.

She also praised the effort and commitment made by Member States to hold Ministerial Level Meetings every six months that has facilitated forging a great understanding between the member states and adopting common approaches in the search for durable peace and security across the region.

However, they both noted that there is still not enough sensitization about the importance of regional integration among the population and key stakeholders in the region. They viewed the importance of integration in promoting inter-regional trade and industrialization for sustainable economic development.

Ambassador Mulamula has been succeeded by Professor Ntumba Luaba of DRC, former Human Rights Minister and Deputy Executive Secretary of CEPGL (Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs - Economic Community of the Great Lakes Region).

ICGLR has eleven members that include Angola, Burundi, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.