Linked with Southern African Regional Poverty Network SARPN, with Assessing the Scope of National and Supra-National Parliaments to Form African Policies, and with African NGOs and the Pan African Parliament.
Gertrude Ibengwe Mongella is the president of the Pan-African Parliament. She was born in 1945 in Ukerewe, Lake Victoria, Tanganyika, Tanzania.
She is also one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.
She is also a Better World Hero.
She says: « If we are to remain free, if we are to enjoy the full benefits of Africa’s rich resources, we must unite to plan for our total defence and full exploitation of our material and human means in the full interest of our peoples. To go it alone will limit our horizons, curtail our expectations and threaten our liberty ». (full text).
She says also: » … the problem (of youth joblessness) largely contributes to fast spread of AIDS as some jobless youths have turned to immoral practices for their livelihood. (full text).
Contact information of Pan-African Parliament.
Gertrude Ibengwe Mongella – Tanzania
She is member of of the following groups:
- Southern African Regional Poverty Network SARPN;
- The Tanzania Association of Women Leaders in Agriculture and Environment TAWALE;
- Society for Women and Aids in Africa Tanzania Branch SWAAT;
- Tanzania Dental Association TDA;
- United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, board of trustees: on UN.org/, and on Dept. of Foreign Affairs ZA;
- Meaendeleo ya Wanawake Ukeuewe MAWAU.
Until the African parliament is elected by universal suffrage in early 2009, some its resolutions still require confirmation by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. All the other institutions of the AU government, including the African Union Commission, are subordinate to, and accountable to the Parliament. (full long text on her activities).
Download: SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT HONOURABLE AMBASSADOR GERTRUDE IBENGWE MONGELLA, MP; TO THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT 3RD SESSION AT GALLAGHER ESTATE IN MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA, ON 29 MARCH 2005.
Early work: In 1970 President Mongella graduated from East Africa University College in Dar es Salaam. For four years she was a tutor at Dar es Salaam Teachers Training College. In 1974 she became curriculum developer for the Dar es Salaam Institues of Education, which she did until 1978. From 1977 until 1992 President Mongella was a Member of the Central Committee and National Executive Committee of
the CCM party. From 1975 until 1982 she was a member of the Council of the University of Dar es Salaam, Also during this time she was on the Board of Directors for the Tanzania Rural Development Bank. From 1978 to 1982 she was a School Inspector. (full text).
Her interntional work: In 1985 Mongella became Vice-Chairperson to the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the UN Decade for Women. In 1989 Mongella was Tanzanian Representative to the Commission on the Status of Women. From 1990 to 1993 she was a Member of the Trustee to the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).
From 1991 to 1992 President Mongella was Tanzanian High Commissioner to India, in 1995 she was UN Assistant Secretary General and Secretary General, 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, from 1996 to 1997 Mrs. Mongella was UN Under-Secretary and Special Envoy to the Secretary General of the United Nations on Women’s Issues and Development.
In 1996 she was a Member of the Advisory Group to the Director General UNESCO for the follow-up of the Beijing Conference in Africa, South of the Sahara. Also in 1996 she was a Member of the Board for the Agency for Co-Operation and Research in Development in London. In 1996 she was a member of the board for both The Hunger Project in New York, and the UN University in Tokyo, Japan. Also in 1996 she was President of Advocacy for Women in Africa. In 1997 Mongella was Senior Advisor to the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa on Gender Issues.
In 1998 she became a member of the OAU sitting on the Women Committee for Peace and Development, In 1999 she was a member of the « Council of the Future », UNESCO, Paris, France, in 2000 She was a Member of the Tanzanian Parliament Ukerewe Constituency. In 2002 she was a member of the OAU’s High Level Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons. In 2002 Mongella was a member of the Regional Reproduction Health Task Force for the World Health Organization’s African Region, she was also leader of the OAU Election Observer Team to the Zimbabwean Presidential Election. 2003 saw her as Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health Organization’s Africa Region. She became a Member and President of the Pan African Parliament in 2004. (full long text on wikipedia).
Bio: Born September 13, 1945, in Ukerewe, Tanzania; daughter of a carpenter; married; children: four.
Education: Dar es Salaam University, 1970, education degree. (full text).
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