Madam,

The future will not be shaped by waiting for change, it will be shaped by those bold enough to create it. It is quite a sad reality that the story of a mother who wakes up very early in the morning to prepare her children for school and her husband for work, still has to get herself ready for work, can never be recognised as courage. Tell me who can do all these chores that our mothers do and still be able to show up to work and work twice as hard in order to be recognised in male-dominated industries. Have you ever asked yourself why we always feel like a woman’s promotion is awarded as a favour, not merit? That is the mentality we first have to work on before we accelerate action.

Gender equality is more than just a phrase to women, it is a powerful call to governments, institutions, communities and justice systems to move faster towards a world where women and girls enjoy equal opportunities, respect, attention, treatment and dignity. For ages, women have been the pillars of homes, communities, institutions and economies.

The unfair treatments have stolen away many of our sisters’ and mothers’ capabilities. In most cases, you find that they have the brightest ideas and are capable of uplifting organisations, but they’re not granted equal opportunities as their male counterparts and they fail to put those ideas to good use.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Majesty King Mswati III for blessing us with a superwoman, the Deputy Prime Minister, Thulisile Dladla. She stands to define the true strengths of what women are capable of when granted the opportunity. She is a mother to all, an inspiration to most women and an achiever who goes against all odds to see the needy people in this country have access to resources that will make their lives less difficult. It is quite amazing how she thrives to do it all at once. I think we can all agree that she is wonderfully unique and an achiever.

Perhaps the most powerful change begins with women themselves – in the courage to dream boldly, speak confidently and step into spaces that were once closed to them. When a woman is empowered, the impact goes far beyond her life. Families grow stronger and move closer to sustainable development. Empowering a woman is basically investing in sustainable development.

This generation of women are the change we have always anticipated; they are exactly what our mothers were fighting to achieve with gender equality. Power is exactly what they are claiming – the power to lead, to innovate and shape societies. Across the world, women are leading governments, building successful businesses, driving innovation and shaping public discourse. In communities, workplaces and classrooms: They are no longer waiting for opportunities; they are creating them.

They are speaking out against injustice and supporting one another against networks of solidarity. This shift represents more than progress; it reflects a transformation in confidence, voice and leadership. May I tell you that these are the women we are moving with: These ladies are the future. Now I believe why Ariana Grande said ‘God Is A Woman’, because tell me why everything feels right when a female is in charge. Suddenly, we all feel safe and with proper guidance. Ladies, the future seems brighter than we imagined. Put on your sunglasses and let’s lead!

The future will not be shaped by waiting for change, it will be shaped by those bold enough to create it.