The First Ladies of Southern Africa: Trophies or Trailblazers?

Abstract

No longer simply trophy wives, First Ladies in Southern Africa in particular, are an increasingly influential political force in the inner circle of presidents and politics. Recent examples of the growing political influence of First Ladies of Southern Africa include Graça Machel and Grace Mugabe. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the political role, influence and activities of First Ladies in Southern Africa and in particular to contribute to this under-researched area related to political leadership in Africa. From peace missions to summits, First Ladies play a leadership role in the sustainable development and politics of the sub-region. In some instances, however, First Ladies have contributed to the undermining of accountable leadership on the continent. For analytical purposes, the paper addresses the political agenda, role, influence and accountability of selected First Ladies in Southern Africa.

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