ZODWA MABUZA: CELEBRATING SWAZI WOMAN SHAPING THE CONTINENT AND BEYOND
Zodwa Mabuza took a leap into international leadership, leaving eSwatini in 2013 to work for major regional and global institutions. It made sense for her to leave eSwatini. After all, at just 35 years old she was already CEO of the Federation of Employers and Chamber of Commerce in Eswatini.
After seven years at the helm, she realized she had reached the peak of that role and sought opportunities beyond the country’s borders. "Coming from a conservative culture, society is not always supportive of a woman who 'leaves her husband and children' in pursuit of career goals. But the rewards have been phenomenal," she says.
Mabuza’s career is a masterclass in breaking boundaries. Fresh off her trailblazing work at COMESA and the African Development Bank (AfDB), she now must spearhead transformative regional agendas as Chief of Section, Subregional Initiatives at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Lusaka, Zambia.
In this pivotal role, is charged with orchestrating cross-border strategies to accelerate sustainable development and economic integration across Southern Africa, aligning with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and Africa’s continental blueprints.
At COMESA, Mabuza engineered trade negotiations among 26 nations, earning the African Trade Policy Leadership Award (2021). Later, at AfDB, she revolutionized intra-African mobility by co-designing the Africa Visa Openness Index, boosting cross-border travel by 20 percent. Now, at UNECA, shes expected to pioneer new initiatives like bringing the African continental free trade area into being and tackling non tarrif barriers.
Her latest coup? Rallying 12 Southern African nations to adopt a Digital Trade Protocol, slashing e-commerce barriers for 15,000 women entrepreneurs. From Lusaka, Mabuza continues to redefine leadership, proving that Swazi women are catalysts for continental transformation. For many women, stepping beyond the borders of their home country to pursue a career is both an exciting and daunting experience. For Mabuza, the challenges of working abroad have been significant, but the rewards have been even greater.
Leaving eSwatini meant building an impressive career in international organisations, playing a key role in shaping Africa’s economic policies. She acknowledges that leaving her family behind to pursue her professional goals was not always welcomed in her conservative society. However, with the full support of her husband and children, she forged ahead, determined to make an impact. Mabuza’s journey began at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), where she coordinated trade negotiations among 26 African countries.
She describes her time at COMESA as “the most enriching five years” of her career, as she witnessed first-hand the complexities of integrating African economies. " Imagine sitting in a room listening to policy makers from diverse African economies making the case for integrating the continent? It was the most enriching fiveyears of my career life. Zambia provided a soft landing for ne since it was closer home. I did not feel the distance," recalls of her time at COMESA.
Zodwa Mabuza.
Her move to the African Development Bank (AfDB) headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, in 2018 came with new challenges, including a language barrier and a greater disconnect from home. Yet, the work remained deeply fulfilling. One of her career highlights was producing the Africa Visa Openness Index, a key report advocating for easier movement of people across the continent. "If the continent is to integrate effectively and benefit from initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), people should be facilitated to move freely," she said.
"But despite all the protocols, there are still barriers that keep me awake at night. Africa is stronger when connected and integrated than when fragmented. As a Swazi woman operating in a male-dominated environment, you have to double your efforts to prove your worth. Gender biases make it harder to get the same respect afforded to men," she said.
"Fortunately, at the UN, I joined an entity headed by a woman, and there is strong support for women’s empowerment." Despite the challenges of working abroad, Mabuza has no regrets. She encourages other women to pursue international careers and take risks. “My advice to women who may want to work outside the country is simple: go for it. Set goals for your life and work towards attaining them,” she said. Beyond her own career, she is committed to ensuring her two daughters see the world as full of possibilities. "I encourage my girls to look beyond the confines of Eswatini.
There are greater opportunities for growth and making a difference. Her advice to women? "Set goals and work towards them. I encourage my daughters to look beyond the confines of Eswatini. There are greater opportunities for growth and making a difference."