Josephine Odera, UN Women Regional Advisor Leadership and Governance at the UN Women Zimbabwe Country Office training of female parliamentarians

On the first day of the UN Women Zimbabwe country office training on Transformational Leadership taking place at ACTIL since Monday, 14th September 2015, Josephine Odera, UN Women ESARO Regional Director gave the following opening remarks:

"I am delighted to participate in this training session on behalf of the Regional Director, UN Women, ESARO and as the Regional Advisor on governance, leadership and political participation. Thank you to all of you for finding time for this training. It is going to an exciting time of looking deeper into the issue of transformative leadership with specific reference to women’s political leadership.

At UN Women, we believe in women’s leadership and that women can make a difference in governance. The political empowerment of women is one of our strategic objectives intended to support women to become leaders for change and progress.

One of the main narratives about women in leadership is that they are their own worst enemies. Women in fact have become the main agents of transmitting this narrative and I would like us to examine it briefly. Do you yourselves submit to this narrative? Do you believe it? Where is that narrative coming from? What needs to change to overcome such narratives and stereotyping that diminish the value and worth of women.

Women leaders must remain vigilant and identify subtle stereotyping and messaging that is actually intended to devalue, marginalise and bring down! Our lives and behaviour as leaders must amplify what is true and positive about women leaders and about human beings. This will help us be supportive of one another. It will remind us that as women, we bring value to leadership and we can be women leaders and not be pressurised to behave as men when in leadership. Being a female leader is not equal to being a weak leader do we believe that? Let’s purpose to overcome the negative images and myths that have been perpetuated about women’s leadership!

In concluding, I would like to pose a few questions to you as individuals: Who do people say you are? What are you known for as a leader? What do you bring visibility to? Where is your impact? What change is identified with you? Can you confidently say who you are in terms of values, principles, action?

The training on transformative leadership will take you through introspection and examining the mind-set for change, evaluating and re-evaluating impact and also the place for nurturing and mentoring in leadership. I trust that at the end of the course you will be poised for change and impact and when we hear of you in the future, you will be trailblazers for transformative leadership in Zimbabwe, Africa and the World! God bless you all!"