Keywords: Africa, women, power, gender symmetry

In the first decade of this century, the States of the South African region, especially South Africa, Mozambique and Lesotho, have made significant progress in implementing the policy of so-called gender symmetry*, which indicates the increasing role of women in shaping public policy. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), which has published an annual ranking of countries on gender equality in politics, employment and promotion, education and health since 2005, in 2009 South Africa and Lesotho were among the top ten countries in the world that successfully address this problem^. Moreover, South Africa ranked 2nd in terms of the number of female members of Parliament and 5th in terms of the number of ministerial posts held by women.

In the countries of the region, there are many problems that require the participation of "representatives of the weaker sex": combating sexual violence against women and children; improving education and health care policies; creating conditions for adaptation of children participating in military conflicts to peaceful life, etc. In Southern African States, ministries of women's affairs (South Africa, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe), parliamentary committees, centers and schools are being established to train them.

POLITICAL EQUALITY

The current concept of political equality between women and men in South Africa, Lesotho, Angola and Namibia is implemented through the use of a quota system for women's representation in elected government bodies. In countries where such proportions already exist (for example, in Namibia), there are laws that require political parties to nominate a certain number of female candidates. In South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party provides women with almost 50% of seats. Currently, in many African countries, quotas are one of the elements of State regulation of the selection of political personnel. It is also established at the regional level: the South African Development Community (SADC) adopted a special resolution in 1997, which set the task to set the representation of women in decision-making positions in member countries at 30% ^by 2005.2. Indeed, in the mid-2000s, high levels of women's representation in Parliament (about 30%) were observed in South Africa and Mozambique. However, in other countries, these requirements are not fully met: in 2008, women held 40% of ministerial posts in the Government of Lesotho (9 out of 23), and in Botswana-only 12% (2 out of 16).

The current situation is primarily explained by the peculiarities of the political culture existing in individual countries of the region. In the absence of effective laws on women's participation in power structures, the qualities of African women that are essential for successful politics, such as charisma, education, polemical skills and communication skills, as well as their willingness to act in the public interest in practice, may even become obstacles to their professional career.

In the countries of Southern Africa, women have accumulated considerable experience in political, including independent electoral struggle. In many countries, most notably South Africa, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, women were active fighters for independence, for which they often fought with weapons in their hands. In the Republic of South Africa, women were actively involved in the struggle against apartheid. Their determination was also underlined by slogans that were often heard during protest demonstrations: "If you touch a woman, you touch a rock!"³. In the early 1990s, strong advocacy by Botswana women led by the Emang Basadi Association led to the repeal of the discriminatory Citizenship Act, which denied women the right to pass on their Botswana citizenship to foreign children and husbands. The issue was resolved with the help of lawyer Unity Doe, who managed to convince some members of Parliament that this law contradicts the provisions of the country's Constitution. The struggle of the above-mentioned women's association influenced the results of a national referendum held in 1997, after which the Main Document was amended to grant the right to vote to citizens of Botswana living outside the country.

In South Africa, over the years of the gender program, the representation of women in the country's parliament has increased from 3 to more than

* Equal and equal rights of men and women in legislative, executive and administrative bodies.

30%, and in the government - up to 40%. The political will of the Government is eloquently demonstrated by the adoption of more than 30 legislative acts aimed at achieving women's equality. In this area, at the turn of the century, the South African government became a pioneer among the countries of the region. The problem of women's emancipation is most successfully solved in the sphere of legislative power. In 1997, the National Commission for Gender Equality, established by a decision of the Parliament, began to work in South Africa. It included representatives of both sexes, and the composition of the commission was approved by the President. Since 1999, there has been a provision that requires at least 30% of women in the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers.

WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT

Women ministers have already appeared in the first Government of national unity led by N. Mandela. For example, a prominent anti - apartheid activist, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 46, was appointed Minister of Health. Later, 37-year-old Maria Ramos also received a high state post. In 1995, 43-year-old Sanki Mtembi-Nkondo became Minister of Housing. A teacher by training, ANC activist, she was forced to live in exile in Zambia, Nigeria, Sweden and Germany until 1994. S. Mtembi-Nkondo led the campaign against illiteracy in political refugee camps, and after the collapse of the apartheid regime led the government campaign " masakhane "("let's build together").

The career of another woman (now deceased) - a prominent South African politician, Minister of Health in the government of T. Mbeki Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is indicative. The mother of two daughters, she became a member of Parliament at the age of 54. Like many of her peers, she started out as an activist in the ANC Youth League. She was educated at the 1st Leningrad Medical Institute (1962-1969), and also studied at higher educational institutions in Belgium and Great Britain. During the years of emigration to Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania, she was engaged in medical practice. After returning to her homeland in 1990, she worked in the ANC Women's League, and since 1994 - in the Parliamentary Committee on Health.

In total, 12 women worked in the Government of Mandela - 4 ministers and 8 deputy ministers.

After the 1999 elections, 9 women were appointed ministers, and an Afrikaner woman, Susan van der Merwe, also became a parliamentary adviser to the new President, T. Mbeki. Lindiwe Sisulu, who was trained in the USSR, was appointed Minister of Intelligence Services. Her sister, Sheila, was appointed South Africa's Ambassador to the United States in 1999. Later, South Africa's ambassadors to Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and a number of other countries were also appointed women. Another prominent example of her political career is Isabella Winky Direko, who was elected Prime Minister of the Free State, one of the nine provinces of South Africa, in the 1999 elections.

Successful work in the 1999 government allowed the majority of women ministers to retain their posts even after the 2004 elections: out of 9 in the new Cabinet, 8 remained. In total, 11 women received ministerial portfolios in the 2004 Government, and the post of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development was also entrusted to a woman - Brigitte Mabandle. T. Mbeki continued the policy initiated by N. Mandela, and in 2006 women held 35% of the posts of ministers and their deputies.⁴

In the Mandela government and in both Mbeki cabinets, Stella Sigkawa worked. After her death in 2006, Mbeki reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the role of women in the country's public administration by appointing Toko Didiza as the new Minister of Public Works. Deputy Minister of Health Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge actively participated in the development of a new National HIV/AIDS Program for 2007-2011.

In the Government of new President Zuma, formed in May 2009, 12 women were appointed to the Cabinet. Following his changes, the number of ministers increased to 14 in November 2010, making up 40% (14 out of 34 ministers).⁵. The Cabinet of Ministers of South Africa already has a kind of "long-livers", first of all, these are N. Dlamini-Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu, who under Zuma received the posts of Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Defense and Veterans ' Affairs.

In some countries, women have become the second person in the state. In South Africa, for example, the post of Deputy President has twice been held by black women: in 2005, T. Mbeki appointed Pumzile Mlambo-Ngkuku as his deputy, and in the government of Kgalema Motlante in September 2008, Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile became his deputy. In Mozambique, Luisa Dias Diogu was appointed Prime Minister, and in Namibia, Libertin Amatila has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister since 2005.

An example of charismatic women politicians and successful careers can serve as the figure of the Vice-president of Zimbabwe

Joyce Mujuru, who took up the post in 2004 at the age of 49. To do this, Mugabe had to withdraw from his inner circle 7 people (including 6 out of 10 provincial representatives of the ruling ZANU-PF party) who opposed the appointment of Mujuru. Since the early 1990s, her political career has been characterized by consistent promotion to the highest echelons of power: in 1992, she was elected Governor of Mashonaland province, in 1996 - headed the Ministry of Information, Post and Telecommunications, and then was appointed Minister of Rural Development and Water Supply. Mujuru became Mugabe's right-hand man in the implementation of the so-called "land reform", which began in 2000 and mainly consisted of expelling white farmers. It was she, an ardent supporter of the policy of ousting the white population from the country, who developed the ideological background of this reform. By the way, Mujuru was considered the most likely candidate for the post of president of the country after the supposed (in 2008) departure of R. Mugabe.

In the new coalition Government formed in February 2009, only 3 out of 34 ministerial posts were held by women, as in the previous one. One of the two Deputy Prime Ministers of M. Tsvangirai was appointed Thokozani Coupe. Moreover, the age of women politicians in power is "getting younger": if Joyce Mujuru is 56 years old (born in 1955), then Thokozani Coupe is 48 years old (born in 1963).

Women are increasingly trusted with important positions related to foreign policy and security. For example, in South Africa, in 2004, N. Dlamini-Zuma was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of T. Mbeki (the first woman in this post in the country's history). Her deputy also became a woman - Susan van der Merwe, who remained in this capacity in the government of J. R. R. Tolkien. Zooms. In 2008, under President K. Motlanta, Nosiwive Mapisa-Nqakula served as Minister of the Interior. In the government of J. R. R. Tolkien In 2009, N. Dlamini-Zuma, who became Minister of the Interior, was also replaced as Minister of Foreign Affairs by a woman, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. Zuma gave the portfolio of the Minister of Defense and Veterans ' Affairs to Lindiwa Sisula. And in Mozambique, Benwinda Levy is the Minister of Justice.

The influence of women in the Angolan Government has significantly increased. If in 2002 there were 3 women, then in 2008 their number doubled. In the new cabinet formed in 2008, women were additionally entrusted with the posts of Ministers of Science and Technology (Maria Candida Teixeira) and Trade (Maria Idalina di Oliviera Valente).

In Zambia, the role of women in public and political life is traditionally great: with the exception of a few ethnic groups in the Eastern Province that maintain a patrilineal or mixed kinship system, in most Zambian families, descent and inheritance are established through the female line. However, in the government of F. Chiluba, formed after the first multi-party elections in 1991, had no women. One of the posts of Deputy Minister received a prominent figure of the ruling party DMD (Movement for Multiparty Democracy) Silvia Macebo. Despite the SADC Declaration of 1997 setting a 30% level for women in leadership positions, in 2006 there were only 4 female ministers in the Government of the next President, L. Mwanawasa. And 23 women were elected to the Parliament, which made up 14.6% of the total number of deputies.

President Mwanawasa himself supported the idea of increasing women's political participation. In May 2003, in an official address to his fellow citizens dedicated to the next anniversary of the country's independence, he stated that the next president should be a woman.⁶ Later, after Mwanawasa's death in the summer of 2008, this was one of the reasons for the conflict between his widow, Maureen Mwanawasa, and the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, Michael Sata. The latter sharply criticized the active work of the president's widow in preparing the ceremony of solemn transportation - before burial in Lusaka-of the former leader's body to the main cities of all nine provinces of Zambia. Sata said that M. Mwanawasa, as a prominent member of the ruling DMD, is using her husband's funeral as part of his future election campaign. Outraged by the opposition leader's criticism, M. Mwanawasa ordered security guards not to allow him to attend the president's funeral ceremony.⁷ However, she later announced her desire to run in the 2016 general election.

M. Mwanawasa is far from the only female politician in Southern Africa who boldly expresses her willingness to take a place in the highest hierarchy of power. Former wife of South African President J. R. R. Tolkien Zuma N. Dlamini-Zuma, on the eve of the ANC presidential election in 2007, officially declared her readiness to become the party's leader, "if

the party approached her with the following proposal. " ⁸

Returning to Zambia, it should be noted that the representation of women in the Cabinet has changed little since President Rupia Banda came to power in the fall of 2008. Of the 22 ministerial posts, only 3 were held by women. Following the appointment of Gladys Lunwe as Minister of Land Affairs in February 2010, the number increased to 4. The problem of low representation of women in the country's power structures was discussed at a meeting of the Parliament in May 2009.

REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT

A positive trend is also observed at the level of women's representation in national parliaments. According to L. M. Sadovskaya, gender policy in the countries of the region, including thanks to the aforementioned SADC Declaration of 1997, has led not only to a quantitative increase in women's participation in government bodies, but also to an increase in the role of women parliamentarians in decision-making at the state level. ⁹ According to UN data, Mozambique ranked 12th (34%) in the world in terms of the number of women members of Parliament in 2008. In South Africa, this figure was 33% (15th place), Namibia-26.9% (28th), Lesotho-23.5% (38th), Zimbabwe-16% (74th), Zambia-15.2% (78th), Angola-15% (79th), Botswana - 11.1% (99th) and Swaziland-10.8% (101st) ¹⁰.

As can be seen from the data provided, the number of women parliamentarians has increased in Namibia, where they accounted for 22.1% ⁱⁿ 200611. Following the November 2009 elections, the proportion of women in Parliament increased to 32% (23 out of 72 seats).¹². In Angola, women's political activism was clearly demonstrated by the parliamentary elections held in the autumn of 2008. As a result of the Government's introduction of a 30% quota for women, their number was 35% of all candidates nominated for deputies.¹³

The progressive growth of women's representation in the legislature is clearly demonstrated by the data on the composition of the Parliament of South Africa. In 1999, women (mostly black South Africans) held 30% of parliamentary seats. As the American researcher Hannah Evelyn Britton notes, "from the very beginning of their election, women deputies began to "rebuild" parliament, creating opportunities for the realization of women's rights. " ¹⁴ In 2006, there were already 32.8% of women in parliament, that is, in terms of women's representation in parliament, South Africa was on a par with such developed European countries countries like Sweden, Denmark, or the Netherlands.

In some countries in the region, women are speakers of parliaments. In South Africa, this position was held by ANC member Frene Jinwala for ten years (1994-2004). As a result of her energetic work, about 500 new laws were passed in Parliament, which laid the foundation for a democratic South Africa15. She also headed the Women's Emancipation Commission and participated in the formation of the ANC Women's League. Later, the Speaker of the National Assembly was again a woman - Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile. And in Zimbabwe, Edna Madzongwe was President of the Senate in 2009. Women also become deputy Chairmen of Parliament, as was the case in South Africa in the early 2000s or in Swaziland in 2006-2008, when Constance Simelane held this post.

The political activity of some women parliamentarians allows them to successfully continue their political career. For example, in South Africa, Mildred Oliphant, a member of Parliament since 1994, was appointed Minister of Labour by Zuma in October 2010, and gender activist and writer Pregs Govender (Member of Parliament 1994-2002) was appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Women's Affairs.

Many women parliamentarians understand that to solve important socio-economic problems, it is not the growth of women's representation in legislative and executive bodies that is necessary, but the effectiveness of their activities. In South Africa, the activism of women MPs contributed to the adoption of a new law on sexual offences in May 2007 (after 10 years of delay). In Zambia, which also has a high rate of these crimes, women MPs are pushing for a similar law. In 2007, at their initiative, the Parliament held a week of special events to draw attention to this issue.

The effectiveness of women's advocacy increases if they actively interact with relevant organizations. For example, in Botswana in 2000, women parliamentarians again supported the aforementioned Emang Basadi Association, which this time opposed the high level of sexual violence in the country. This has greatly contributed to the development of the national AIDS program. Some members of Parliament themselves have experience working in women's organizations. The already mentioned F. Jinwala (South Africa) was the head of the Women's National Coalition since 1992, whose main activity was the creation of the Charter; its text was later used in writing the new constitution of the country.

Women parliamentarians participate in international activities: representatives of South Africa (J. Malangu) and Namibia (M. N. Mensah) were members of the executive committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the latter became its Vice-president.

It should be noted that SADC has set a goal to achieve ⁵⁰% representation of women in Parliament in its member countries by 201516.

WOMEN IN PARTY BUILDING

The number of women and their impact on political activity-

In South Africa, the number of political parties is very significant. The Commission for Gender Equality in the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan was established in 1968. In modern South Africa, women are not only prominent leaders of political parties, but also become their founders. The leadership of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party has a "female face": its leader is Helen Zille, and the parliamentary YES faction was headed by Sandra Botha. Member of Parliament Patricia de Lille founded and headed the Independent Democrats (ND) party in March 2003, which successfully participated in the 2004 and 2009 elections. Under her leadership, the party won four seats in the National Assembly.

In South Africa, there is a 50% quota for women in the AN K itself ¹⁷. The strengthening of the role of women in the ruling party during the second term of President T. Mbeki (2004-2008) can be seen in the examples of the entry of women into the ANC Executive Committee (Winnie Madikizela-Mandela), as well as the election of women as the party's National Chairman (Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete) and Deputy Secretary General (Thandi Modee). By the way, B. Mbete remained in this post even after J. R. R. Tolkien came to power.Zooms in 2009

On the eve of the ANC elections, at the congress in Polokwan (December 2007), one of the candidates for the post of Deputy President of the party was the 58-year-old Minister of Foreign Affairs, the former wife of J. R. R. Tolkien.Zuma N. Dlamini-Zuma. According to some reports, T. Mbeki planned to nominate her for the post of the new president of the country if he won the congress. By the way, he has previously stated the need to grant the highest state post of the country to a woman.

Leader of the Yoo-H party. Zille is a former well-known journalist and active participant in the anti-racist movement. She was the first to report in the press about the sensational murder of black activist Steve Biko by police. Zille was the mayor of Cape Town for several years, and in 2008, the independent political, economic and educational research organization City Mayors recognized her as the best city administration head in the world (the list included 820 mayors).¹⁸.

In other countries of the region, there are not so many women among leaders and prominent party figures. In Angola, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is headed by Analia de Victoria Pereira. In Zambia, a prominent member of the ruling DMD party, Sylvia Masebo, led a group of people dissatisfied with the policies of President F. Kennedy in 1999. Chiluby members of this organization and created the so-called "Pressure Group". The first female party leader in the country was Edith Zelevani Nawakvi, who headed the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDR) in 2001. In Zimbabwe since 2005 Thokozani Kupe is the deputy leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, Morgan Tsvangirai.

One of the most important factors contributing to the promotion of African women in politics remains a fairly high literacy rate among women, which in most countries of the region reaches 80% (Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia).¹⁹. Many members of the Government and Parliament have higher education not only in local universities, but also in the West. For example, the former Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Frene Jinwala, and the current Minister of the Interior of South Africa, N. Dlamini-Zuma, were educated in the UK.

The problem of taking into account the factor of tribal affiliation when appointing to government posts remains relevant for the region, where, with the exception of Lesotho and Swaziland, countries are multiethnic, while South Africa, Namibia and part of Zimbabwe are simultaneously multiracial. In the mid-2000s, the government of T. Mbeki (Xhosa) was clearly dominated by his tribesmen, ²⁰ and in Zambia, the opposition often accuses President R. Banda of deviating from the principle of ethnic balancing. Nevertheless, it would be a serious exaggeration to say that the ethnic factor has a significant impact on the political sphere, including the promotion of women to power structures, in most countries of the region.

In South Africa, the process of Africanization of the political apparatus continues. In 2009, in the government of J. R. R. Tolkien, Zuma had only one white woman, Minister of State Enterprises Barbara Hogan. Following the October 2010 changes in the Government, 12 of the 14 female ministers were black and two were colored-Minister of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries Tina Yumat-Peterson and Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs Lindiwe Sisulu B. Hogan was replaced by a man, M. Gigaba. The aforementioned Afrikaner X. Zille has successfully served as mayor of Cape Town, largely due to her command of several local African languages.

Kinship and clan ties are still strong in the countries of the region. Deputy President T. Mbeki P. Mlambo-Ngcuka assumed the post after an investigation by her husband, former State Prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka, resulted in the resignation of former deputy Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, over corruption charges. Interior Minister N. Dlamini-Zuma is the former wife of President J. Zuma (from this marriage four children were born), and Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs L. Sisulu is the daughter of the late ANC leader Walter Sisulu (by the way, he is an honorary doctor of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences). It is hard to deny the obvious fact that family ties have made it much easier for these business-and organizational-minded politicians to rise to the top of government.

In the complex of problems hindering the advancement of African women

As a result, there are still problems associated with the preservation of the traditional way of life in African society (insufficient level of education, unemployment, lack of pre-school institutions, etc.). The conflict between the principle of gender equality and traditional law in the countries of the region is still relevant. Local researchers of this problem note that in the long-term process of gender integration, it is necessary to constantly monitor the interests and aspirations of women themselves.²¹

The process of promoting women to power is also hindered by a certain male chauvinism. A. B. Davidson and I. I. Filatova note: "Any Zulu can explain to you why many of his compatriots consider it hardly an insult that Zulu Pumzils Mlambo Ngkuka was appointed Deputy President of the country after the removal of Jacob Zuma from this post. It is not just that she is a woman, although this factor is also unfavorable: it is not appropriate for a woman to represent a nation of great warriors in the government. " ²²

FIRST LADIES

The current and former first ladies can be considered as a separate group of women who have an impact on political life. This is not only about the impact of their behavior on the political image of high-ranking spouses, but also about the desire of these women to participate more actively in politics.

If the general public knows little about the first ladies of most African states (and many do not know at all), then the first ladies of the states of the South African region have repeatedly found themselves in the center of attention of foreign media. On the one hand, the active social and humanitarian activities of Graca Machel (wife of South African President Mandela) and Maureen Mwanawasa (widow of Zambian President L. Mwanawasa) are well known, on the other hand, the media was full of reports about the trial and imprisonment of the wife of former Zambian President F. Mwanawasa. Chiluba Regina, accused of corruption, as well as materials about the extravagance of Grace Mugabe, the wife of the President of Zimbabwe. Especially often the first ladies of South Africa came to the attention of journalists. President Frédéric de Klerk's wife, Marieke, attracted their attention not only by actively supporting her husband during his tenure as head of state, but also by the fact of her violent death in 2001, after her divorce from him. Mandela's ex-wife Winnie, a prominent ANC figure, was portrayed in the late 1990s as a corrupt official and a man implicated in murder. And his current wife Graca Machel (widow of the former President of Mozambique S. Machela) was awarded the F. Nansen Medal in 1995 in recognition of her many years of humanitarian work, including the rescue of refugee children. After Mandela's departure from the presidency, she continued to be active internationally as Chair of Mozambique's National Commission for UNESCO. The President's wife, T. Mbeki Zanele, was actively involved in charity work. And the wives of President J. Zuma attracted attention to themselves at least by the fact that there are three of them...

After Zuma came to power in April 2009, an unconventional situation arose for the country related to the first lady. The new president remains true to the usual polygamy of his people (Zulus): 69-year - old Zuma has three spouses-Nompumelelo Ntuli, Sizakele Khumalo and Tobeki Madiba. South African laws allow traditional polygamous marriages. Prior to Zuma's election as president, his wives were largely absent from political life. Unlike Khumalo's older wife, who is the same age as Zuma, Ntuly's 36-year-old younger wife, who married him in 2008, is quite sociable and actively participates in public life in the country. It was she who accompanied Zuma to the polling station during the April 2009 election and at the G20 Forum in Pittsburgh, USA, in September 2010. At the inauguration of J. R. R. Tolkien, All three of Zuma's wives were present as first ladies.

Wives of Southern African heads of State are increasingly participating in international forums, as well as in special meetings of foreign ministers.-

you're a lady. Anna Paula dos Santos, the First Lady of Angola, was one of the 15 (and one of three from Africa) first ladies elected to the international steering committee of one of these meetings, which was held in Geneva in 1992. Together with the First Lady of South Africa Z. Mbeki, she participated in the International Forum " The Role of Women In April 2009, A. P. dos Santos and Queen Inhosikati Lambikiza of Swaziland participated in the summit of the First Ladies of Africa held in Los Angeles.

Some former first ladies have continued their political careers after their husbands retired. For example, Vera Tembo is the ex-wife of the former President of Zambia F. Chiluba - took the post of Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources in the government of R. Banda, formed in November 2008. The name of the wife of the late President of Zambia L. Mwanawasa Morin is known for her active work in the fight against AIDS not only in the country, but throughout Africa. President of the First Ladies of Africa against HIV/OAFLA (until February 2009) and founder of the national "Community Initiative", established in 2002 and named after her, she has been active in raising awareness and initiating AIDS response programs on the continent. In 2007, she was awarded the M.-L. King Award in the United States for her active work in the fight against AIDS and poverty, protecting the rights of women and children. She continued her social activities after the death of her husband in 2008.

Zimbabwe's first lady, 44-year-old Grace Mugabe, has a different image. If the president's first wife, Ghanaian-born teacher Sally Haifron (died in 1992), actively helped her husband in the political struggle, conducting propaganda work among women, and after he came to power participated in various women's political associations, then Mugabe because of her passion for luxury (since the beginning of 2000Despite the country's poverty and hunger, she remains a regular customer of high-end boutiques), English journalists often refer to her as "Gucci Grace"²³. In an attempt to protect her and her husband's reputation, in December 2010, Mugabe sued the local newspaper The Standard, which published a story titled" The First Lady is implicated in the diamond scandal", which was made on the basis of information posted in WikiLeaks. The article claimed that Mr Mugabe was profiting immensely from the illegal diamond trade from the Chiadzwa mines.²⁴

In addition to the first ladies, many women politicians from South Africa visited Russia. She has repeatedly visited Moscow as an official (including as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of T. Mbeki) and Minister of Internal Affairs N. Dlamini-Zuma. President Zuma's delegation, which was on an official visit to Moscow in August 2010, included several female ministers, including South African Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor.

* * *

In Southern African countries, women are becoming increasingly prominent in politics. This is a real fact that tends to develop, but it still has little impact on improving the socio-economic status of women and, consequently, on the development of society as a whole. South Africa's achievements in gender equality are the result of more than 15 years of efforts by the ANC Government, Parliament, and civil society organizations. At the same time, in Botswana, significant advances in democracy have yet to guarantee gender symmetry in politics. There are discrepancies between the political and legal attitudes, declarations and realities of life that are inherent not only in the countries of the region and the African continent, but also in many other transitional societies.

They are so different, African women in power... But all of them - both "mothers of the nation" and members of parliament - and ordinary teachers and doctors - are united by the fact that they are mothers. And without them, the continent has no future.

¹ Pulse of the planet. ITAR-TASS. November 2, 2009

² http://www.sadc.int/index/browse/page/174

³ http://www.gorby.ru/rubrs.aspVrubr_id-494&art_id-24421

⁴ www.southafrica.info//ess_info/sa_glance/government/mbeki-cabinet.htm

⁵ http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/mini-sters/index.html

⁶ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2991931.stm

⁷ Lusaka Times. Lusaka. August 25, 2008.

⁸ Pulse of the planet. ITAR-TASS. November 23, 2007

⁹ Gender and power: family, society, state, Moscow, 2008, p. 278.

¹⁰ http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/womcninpolitics 2008/wmnmap08_ru.pdf

¹¹ http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw37/cedaw 37_IandQ/Namibia/0646753R.pdf

¹² http://www.electionwatch.org.na/node/131

¹³ http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43549

^{Britton Hannah Evelyn} 14. Women in the South African Parliament: From Resistance to Governance. University of Illinois Press, 2005. P. 7.

¹⁵ http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Parliamentsl990.htm

¹⁶ http://www.electionwatch.org.na/node/131

¹⁷ http://www.anc.org.za/show.php7doc-ancdocs/pubs/umrabulo/umrabulo28/art7.html

¹⁸ http://www.bbc.co.Uk/2/hi/africa/7998328.stm

¹⁹ www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

²⁰ See: Davidson A. B., Filatova I. I. South Africa: power, dismantling of apartheid, new political orientations / / Modern Africa: metamorphoses of political power, Moscow, 2009, p. 431.

²¹ Women and Customs in Namibia: Cultural Practice Versus Gender Equality? Windhoek, 2008. P. 162.

^{Davidson A. B.} 22, Filatova I. I. Decree. soch., p. 430.

²³ Daily Mirror. L., 20.06.2003.

²⁴ http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-12-15-wikileaks-draws-first-blood

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