Organisers of the African Widows Summit, Almanah Hope Foundation, have expressed unhappiness over the unfair treatment experienced by widows in Africa.
They lamented that African leaders were unconcerned about their worries, saying their views regarding how they ought to be treated were neglected.
The widows fingered unequal economic opportunity, a lack of social services and security, and political disempowerment, among others, as difficulties with which they contend.
According to them, there was a need for policies that would promote sustainable and universal empowerment for African widows.
They noted that governments across Africa must initiate such policies by taking their plight into account.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Founder and President of the Union of African Widows, Hope Nwakwesi, urged governments across Africa to integrate widows into policy planning and implementation, particularly in the economy, education, health, and housing plans.
She said: "The African Widows Summit, TAWS, the inaugural project of AWGaDi, the union of African Widows, an initiative of the Almanah Hope Foundation, which was held from June 20-22, 2024, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, has set a new benchmark in addressing the critical issues surrounding widowhood in Africa.
"Widows should be empowered economically to improve their livelihood and support their families to live in dignity. They should also be engaged in all decision-making at all levels to ensure their perspectives are incorporated into political, and national missions and implemented.
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"At the summit, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady of Zimbabwe, emphasised the need for all to work together for once to challenge the practices that marginalized widows and advocate for policies that provide widows access to quality education, economic opportunities, and social support so they can live with dignity and independence.
"The Second Lady of Kenya, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, highlighted in her advocacy speech that economic empowerment for widows should start with a change in mindset, to help widows move away from grief and negative thoughts towards a more dignified life. She said widows lose their husbands but not their intelligence, hands, or capacity to work.
"The summit also stated the need for; the establishment of a dedicated fund to support widows, aiming to provide financial resources and opportunities for self-sufficiency, and for donor policy and politics to begin the allocation of funds to widow empowerment."
On actionable recommendations made at the summit for onward presentation to the African Union, Nwakwesi added that Africa must define the meaning of a widow.
She called for the inclusion and establishment of widow desks in African Union, national and international agendas, saying desks must be occupied by widows.
She highlighted: "Allocation of funding on widows rights by donors and empowerment, the inclusion of widows in decision-making processes for them to be captured, the integration of widows into policy planning. The summit emphasised the need for greater inclusion of widows in policy planning and implementation, particularly in areas related to economic development, land rights, and the allocation of resources."
