Malawi's High Commissioner to South Africa Stella Ndau calls for digital inclusion for African women
High Commissioner of Malawi to South Africa, Stella Hauya Ndau has delivered remarks at the University of Johannesburg, focusing on the critical issue of digital exclusion of women in Africa.
Ndau made the remarks at the Women for Impact: Innovation and Sustainability in Africa (WIISA) conference held under the theme: Africa at the Crossroads: Intersectionality as a Catalyst for Sustainable Impact and Inclusion.
She highlighted how the lack of access to technology disproportionately affects women and exacerbates existing inequalities.
Ndau emphasised that digital exclusion is not an isolated problem. Instead, she described it as a key component of the interlocking systems of oppression — such as poverty and gender — that shape the life chances of Africans, especially women in rural areas.
“Africa stands at a crossroads. One path leads to inequality, exclusion, and extractive models of growth. The other leads to innovation, equity, and sustainable transformation. The choices we make today will define generations to come,” she told the gathering.
“What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is more than a gender lens. It is a framework for understanding how systems of oppression — race, gender, class, geography, ability, colonial legacies — interlock and shape life chances.
“It reminds us that a girl in rural Malawi does not experience climate change apart from poverty, or education apart from digital exclusion. Our solutions must therefore be as layered and interconnected as the problems we face.”
The Malawian diplomat said Africa is home to the world’s youngest population — over 60 percent under the age of 25, and one of the fastest-growing tech ecosystems.
“Yet inequality locks millions out of this revolution,” said Ndau.
“Consider this: women in Africa are 13 percent less likely to own a mobile phone and 41 percent less likely to use mobile internet than men. Innovation that excludes is not progress.”
Ndau, an accomplished diplomat, was appointed High Commissioner of Malawi to South Africa in June 2021 by the President of Malawi, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. She previously served as Malawi’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, and Mauritius with residence in Pretoria between 2012 and 2015.
Addressing the same event at University of Johannesburg, Acting Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Zhou Yujiang, has emphasized the crucial role of government and the state in promoting women’s empowerment.
“Today, we gather here to talk about women’s impact. I understand that we are essentially talking about the development of mankind, because without women, there would be no continuity of the human race or human society,” said Zhou.
He added that the liberation and progress of mankind would not be attainable without the liberation and progress of women.
The seasoned Chinese diplomat noted that women are creators of material and spiritual wealth and represent an important force driving social development. However, he acknowledged that gender inequality has persisted since the Neolithic Age, with women still facing challenges in rights, opportunities, and access to resources.
According to Zhou, this is a common challenge worldwide, regardless of socio-economic development levels.
“Women account for over half of the 800 million impoverished population of the world. They tend to bear the brunt of wars and epidemics and suffer deeply from violence,” Zhou stated.
He said this shows that the world still has a long way to go in achieving gender equality.
Highlighting China’s perspective, Zhou said: “In China, we believe that ‘women hold half of the sky’.”
He added that governments should strive for women’s development in tandem with social and economic progress and protect their rights and interests. He cited China’s Five-Year Plans and specific initiatives like the “Water Cellar for Mothers” and “Spring Bud” programmes as examples of targeted efforts to support women and girls.
Zhou also pointed to China’s legislative efforts, noting that the first law enacted in the People’s Republic of China was the Marriage Law, which aimed to overturn patriarchal dominance. He said China now has a legal system with over 100 laws and regulations protecting women’s rights and is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 fast-track countries in women’s and children’s health.
Zhou emphasised the need for governments to build harmonious and inclusive societies and foster cooperation.
He reiterated that the Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg always attaches great importance to promoting women’s development and cooperation between South Africa and China.
“We have twice hosted forums on women’s empowerment. Last year, we established the Consul-General’s Award for Academic Excellence for female students in the Faculty of Humanities at UJ and donated sanitary products to girl students in need. We have also encouraged the local Chinese community to help young school girls,” he said.
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing in 1995. Over the past 30 years, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at that conference became a milestone in the global pursuit of gender equality. They have inspired positive changes worldwide and driven remarkable progress in advancing the rights of women and girls globally.”
Zhou said by 1995, only 12 countries had laws against violence towards women.
“Today, 193 countries have enacted 1,583 relevant legal measures, and 112 have established national action plans specifically focused on women. This demonstrates the tremendous power of global consensus and collective action,” he said.
“As a follow-up to President Xi Jinping’s proposal, China will co-host, with UN Women, a global leaders’ meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Beijing in the latter half of this year. We look forward to working with all parties to discuss major issues concerning women’s development worldwide, to build a more sustainable platform for women’s empowerment, and to promote the greater role of women in global governance.”
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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