“FIRST lady” Zanele Mbeki on Sunday proposed a special development fund for women to give the struggle for gender equality more weight. Opening a four-day national gender conference in Johannesburg, Mbeki also suggested the consolidation of the country’s three institutions that deal with gender issues. She said progress in gender equality did not seem to be taking place as expected despite that fact that women occupy positions of power. “We can’t say we do not have a power house. Even if we did not get finance, we have got decision makers,” she said, referring to the country’s eight female cabinet ministers, seven female deputy ministers and other women in high positions. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, government employees, business people, representatives of non-governmental organisations and community leaders attended the first day of the conference. – AFP