DUDU SIMELANE: CELEBRATING THE SWAZI WOMEN SHAPING AFRICA AND THE WORLD
.....Dudu Simelane exemplifies a life of leadership and has impacted not just eSwatini but the region and beyond.
As the world marks International Women’s Month and as part of celebrating the diverse roles of women in society, we share the story of Dudu Simelane who few exemplifies the spirit of leadership and service quite like her. From her early influences in eSwatini to her impact at the regional level through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Simelane has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at improving lives and fostering integration across Southern Africa.
Simelane has had an illustrious career only a few can rival. She has worked in organisations here in eSwatini, including the Council of Swaziland Churches and UNDP-Eswatini, the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) before venturing out into the world, continent and regional stage serving in among other places , the International HIV and AIDS Alliance- IHAA (now known as Frontline AIDS) in the UK and the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s (IPPF) Africa's Regional Office in Nairobi Kenya before joining the SADC Secretariat where she currently serves as Director of Social and Human Development.
“I see this as an opportunity to serve humanity , as well as with governments and other decision making bodies to advance the national, regional and global development agenda” she says . A seasoned leader in national and regional development, Simelane believes leadership is not confined to titles but is a call to influence and bring about positive change and uplift others. "We are all leaders where we are and where God has placed us," she says, emphasizing the importance of leading with integrity, empathy, and passion.
Shaped by Strong Mentors Simelane’s leadership journey was moulded by formidable figures, starting with her late mother, Constance Siphiwe Ngozo (La Mkhwanazi), whom she describes as "a phenomenal woman whose influence on my life cannot be traded for anything." Her father, John Ngozo, whom she calls "a great leader and a great man of God," also played a pivotal role in shaping her values and sense of purpose. Beyond her family, Simelane credits several women who inspired and mentored her throughout her career, including Mrs. Eunice Sowazi, Mrs. Maria Mbelu, Mrs. Khetsiwe G. Dlamini, and Ms. Elizabeth Lwanga, a former UN Resident Coordinator in Eswatini.
Dudu Simelane
"She remains my mentor to this very day," Simelane says of Lwanga. She also acknowledges Dr. Gill Greer, a former Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), for her guidance. A Game-Changer in Eswatini’s Health Sector Simelane’s impact in Eswatini is perhaps most visible in her pioneering work on HIV prevention. While leading the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), she and her team played a crucial role in integrating Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) into the country’s HIV prevention strategy.
"We explored something new and groundbreaking, venturing into untapped territory," she recalls. Understanding that knowledge , cultural practice attitudes and acceptability would play a major role in its success, Simelane remained steadfast, relying on strong scientific evidence that showed that VMMC could reduce the risk of heterosexual HIV infection in men by approximately 60%. Her efforts paid off when the Government of Eswatini adopted VMMC as part of its HIV prevention package.
"It was an exciting moment because from the pioneering work we did, VMMC was rolled out across the country," she notes. She says , we worked alongside the Ministry of Health, the UN, US Government entities , in particular USAID and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as well as other professionals such a Daniel Halperin and Dr. Adam Groeneveld among others.
“My other passion while working actively in health in Eswatini was contributing to peer reviewed work which has been published globally , on VMMC as well as SRHR and HIV and AIDS working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Population Council, IPPF and others in an effort to disseminate the work we were doing and also influence programing and policy development in these key areas of Health and this continued while serving at IPPF and the IHAA.
Driving Regional Integration at SADC Today, Simelane continues to shape policies and programs at a broader level in her role at the SADC Secretariat, where she leads Social and Human Development programs. She sees regional integration as a critical step toward sustainable development. "As countries are diverse, regional integration programs by their very nature take long, but there are critical milestones that have been achieved," she explains.
"One of these milestones is the development of the Regional Qualifications Framework, which has helped align education systems across Southern Africa," she remembers. Other achievements under her leadership include the formulation of policies on youth development, health and HIV, nutrition, and employment, as well as the implementation of cross-border health programs tackling malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. Simelane is acutely aware that the progress of women is central to the region’s success.
"The world can only be a better place when it starts to recognize women and their contribution to development, when the world is safe and free from violence, and when women are uplifted and celebrated," she asserts. A Legacy of Service From breaking new ground in HIV prevention in Eswatini to shaping policies for an integrated Southern Africa, Dudu Simelane’s career reflects a life dedicated to service. As she continues to advocate for policies that promote social development and regional cooperation, she remains a beacon of inspiration for women across the continent.
In all this, she says “I thank God for everything. I also thank my family for all their support and believing in the work I do. They are my cheer leaders and a strong support system in this journey”