First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was recently voted vice president of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in recognition of her philanthropic work and assistance to the less privileged in Zimbabwe.

She was appointed following an election during the ongoing 23rd OAFLAD’s General Assembly meeting, which ran concurrently with the African Union’s Extraordinary Summit.

According to the organisation’s constitution, elections are held after every two years.

Amai Mnangagwa takes over from Margaret Kenyatta of Kenya, while former OAFLAD president, the First Lady of Burkina Faso, Adjoavi Sika Kabore, was replaced by Congo Brazzaville’s First Lady Antoinette Sassou Nguesso.

OAFLAD is an advocacy organisation where African First Ladies seek to leverage their unique position to advocate for policies that make health services accessible and laws that boost women and youth empowerment.

In an interview after her appointment, an ecstatic Amai Mnangagwa pledged to continue working hard for the development of Zimbabwe and the continent at large. She said her appointment was not an individual’s achievement but that of the whole country.

“I am happy that my colleague First Ladies entrusted me with this position. I feel exalted and this is dedicated to all women (of Zimbabwe),” she said.

She added: “The position that I got as OAFLAD’s vice president is not for me alone but for the nation of Zimbabwe, particularly women.

“What it means is that the other African First Ladies have faith and trust in me and I pledge to continue working hard for my nation and the continent at large.

“The other First Ladies are looking forward to more of my initiatives and programmes that I am conducting in Zimbabwe.

“The organisation’s main vision is to have a developed Africa with healthy and empowered children, youth and women. Therefore, when my fellow First Ladies talk of these issues concerning development, they will not forget about our country Zimbabwe,” she explained.State media