/ 8 October 2000

HUMANISE EMPOWERMENT – GRACA

GRACA Machel, former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa, has urged more than 400 women business, political and academic leaders from 40 countries attending a global summit in Johannesburg not to forget to humanise their “struggle for empowerment.” Machel told the delegates: “You compete, but you compete always with a social agenda. That’s the kind of business that’s going to make sense if you [want] to fight poverty.” Machel was accompanied by her husband, former South African president Nelson Mandela, who delighted the delegates by quipping: “I used to pity men who are known through their wives … I never thought I’d belong to that class.” – AFP