1. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS UNUSUAL GENDER TRAINING
MADE AT THE BIRTCHWOOD HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTRE
BY ALEC LUSHABA
SWAZILAND

2. Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings from the Kingdom of Swaziland. I am the Editor for the Weekend Observer, a weekly publication of the second largest newspaper in Swaziland, The Swazi Observer.
Let me thank GEMSA for this opportunity to make a presentation of my experience with the Business Unusual trainings and its usefulness.

3. Business Unusual
In the previous Summit we have had an opportunity to participate in one such training and let me tell you now that the experience has been worthwhile for those of us who participated from across the region.
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup still much in the agenda of the African continent, in particular the Southern Africa region, we looked at angles how such a football showpiece will impact on its people, in particular women.
A lot was said about the economic spin-offs of hosting such a mega event and we went out to investigate how women stand to benefit economically and what social implications would come with it.

4. Economic Benefits
A lot was said about the economic spin-offs of hosting such a mega event and we went out to investigate how women stand to benefit economically and what social implications would come with it.
During our training we explored both how South Africans’ will be affected, both economically and socially. The FIFA World Cup held a lot of promise for Africans and it is now history whether the much anticipated economic returns where delivered or just remained just a pie in the sky. In our case, you can refer to this insert to see whether the World Cup was a success or not?

5. Clip
Esther Nxumalo, a Mbabane Market vendor

6. SADC Protocol on Gender
Having been appraised on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and the target to ensure equality in all spheres of life, I set out to investigate whether Swaziland was on course to achieve the SADC Gender Protocol and Development targets.
My experience through interactions with our politicians, gender activists and government officials indicates that we are far from achieving the goals. Whilst there has been some progress made in terms of development of a gender policy, I still must say that there is very little hope that the targets will be met by the stated period.
The training has helped me to appreciate the SADC Gender and Development protocol better and enabled one to put it to test.

7. Policies
The training has helped me to appreciate the SADC Gender and Development protocol better and enabled one to put it to test.
This training has enhanced my appreciation of gender issues. It is not just about women wanting power, but whether the policies that we endorse as a people and governments achieve the desired results or not. In the main they don’t work, as in some case polices need to be accompanied by laws.

8. Swaziland’s case
In Swaziland’s case for instance, the minority status of women frustrates their economic ambitions. That the Constitution talks about equal access to both political and economic opportunities, it does not translate into such benefits in real life because the country is still heavily inclined towards culture.
In fact organisations like Women and Law of Southern Africa (WILSA) and Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) who advocate for women’s rights are still frowned upon in rural communities as they are seen as corrupting women with their weird education programmes.

9. Example

11. Challenge
This therefore places the challenge on the media to continue advocating for gender balance. For the media to play its role it needs to be capacitated with trainings like Business Unusual, where reporters get practical experience and immediately translate that into their daily work.
It is my view that training junior reporters alone will not work much in my environment like Swaziland, but training targeted at heads of news desks and editors may prove useful.

12. Conclusion
In fact, my disposition and exposure has enabled me to appreciate gender issues and in forums where gender has been on the menu other colleagues have expressed the need to be exposed as well.
It is my considered view ladies and gentlemen that Business Unusual training works and its scaling up can speed up the realisation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

13. I thank you