The Federation of Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) has changed its name to COMESA Federation of National Associations of Women in Business. This is in line with the correct name which appears in the COMESA Treaty. The new acronym will now be “COMFWB”.
The name change happened during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually on 25 and 26 August 2020. A new board of directors was also appointed to oversee the running of the organisation in accordance with Article 6(8) of the FEMCOM Charter.
Ms. Maureen Masungu Sumbwe from Zambia was elected Chairperson and Ms Naila Abbas Thabit from Comoros the Vice Chairperson. Ms. Angeline Wibabara from Rwanda took the position of the Rapporteur. Other board members appointed are: Ms. Eliane Munkeni Kiekie from DR Congo, Ms. Selamawit Mekonnen Woldegiorgis (Eritrea), Ms. Zintombi Thandi Nxumalo (Eswatini), Ms. Towera Jalakasi (Malawi), Ms. Siham Sharif Abdalla (Sudan) and Ms. Leila Jaber Belkhiria from Tunisia.
Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe opened the AGM and appreciated the progress FEMCOM has made in the implementation of its mandate as highlighted in the COMESA Treaty.
Outgoing FEMCOM Board Chairperson, Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert also recognized the progress the Federation has made, and congratulated the Secretary General Kapwepwe for recently being listed among the 100 most influential women in Africa.
FEMCOM Chief Executive Officer Ruth Negash urged the board to work toward helping the Federation to mobilise enough resources to support among others the BIAWE Project, Cluster Projects, and the construction of the state-of-the-art FEMCOM Complex.
I look forward to working with the new board to ensure that programmes and projects under the organisation are fully implemented to help alleviate the various challenges the businesswomen in the region face,” she said
The General Assembly which was attended by the FEMCOM National Chapters, reviewed and adopted the revised FEMCOM Charter and the draft FEMCOM Staff Rules and Regulations. This was in addition to the Draft FEMCOM Financial Rules and Regulations which also includes the Procurement Policy. It also considered the 2021 work plan and budget.