Women Empowerment: South Africa's Dlamini-Zuma Becomes First Woman to Chair African Union Commission

Addis Ababa, Monday, 16 July 2012.

South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma won a tight fought vote to become the new head of the African Union Commission, the first woman to hold the post. She beat the incumbent, Jean Ping of Gabon, in a closely fought election over several rounds of voting.

Dlamini-Zuma, 63, an experienced diplomat, is a veteran of the fight against apartheid. A doctor by training, she has served as Health, Interior and Foreign Minister in South Africa.

Dlamini-Zuma's win follows her challenge six months ago to unseat Ping, the former commission chairman, which ended in deadlock after neither won the required two-thirds of the vote, leaving Ping in the post.

Officials said the elections went to four rounds of voting before Dlamini-Zuma won 37 votes, three more than the required majority, to confirm her win over Ping.

South African President Jacob Zuma has congratulated his former wife and (the current) Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her election as head of the African Union Commission.

"It means a lot for Africa... for the continent, unity and the empowerment of women - very important," Zuma said.

Some analysts say South Africa has violated an unwritten tradition that continental powerhouses do not run candidates for the post, but leave smaller nations to take the job.

On the other side, Erastus Mwencha of Kenya was re-elected as deputy chair of the AU Commission.

SOURCE: African Spotlight; AFP and newstrackindia.

NOTE:

THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

The Commission is the Secretariat

of the Union entrusted with executive functions. It is composed of 10 Officials: A Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson; Eight (8) Commissioners and Staff members. The structure represents the Union and protects its interest under the auspices of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government as well as the Executive Committee. The AU Commission is made up of Portfolios. They are: Peace and Security; Political Affairs; Trade and Industry; Infrastructure and Energy; Social Affairs; Rural Economy and Agriculture; Human Resources, Science and Technology; and Economic Affairs. 

Read more at: http://www.au.int/en/commission