Members of the Network of Female Mayors in Cameroon (REFELA-Cam) met in Yaounde on Sunday, May 24, 2015, to start preparations for their participation in the upcoming 7th Africities Summit scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, the business capital of South Africa, from November 29 to December 2, 2015.

The 7th Africities Summit under the theme, “Shaping the future of Africa with the People: the Contribution of African Local Authorities to Agenda 2063 of the African Union” will be the mouthpiece of over 150,000 local governments from all the regions of Africa.

It will also be a forum for strategic debates on what needs to be done at the local level to address service delivery, shelter, economic opportunities, safe and affordable mobility, amongst others. One of its key events will be the 7th International Exhibition of Cities and Local Governments in Africa.

According to the President of the Executive Board of REFELA-Cam, Celestine Ketcha-Courtès, also Mayor of Bangangte, the Africities Summit offers an opportunity for the network’s members to forge South-South partnerships with emerging South African cities.

It was for this reason that the female mayors were lectured on leadership by South African High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E. Zanele Makina, who hosted the meeting. The diplomat dwelled on the notions of female leadership to enable the mayors gain awareness on their role in the societies they serve.

Before the meeting, the mayors paid a condolence visit to one of the members and Mayor of Yaounde IV, Mrs Amougou Noma Régine, who had lost her son, Amougou Guy Armel Nicolas, on March 30, 2015.

They tried to shadow the sorrow by briefing Mrs Amougou Noma on the recent sojourn of 15 of their members in Paris, France, amongst other activities.

Created on June 11, 2014, REFELA-Cam now boasts of a membership of over 30 female mayors from ten regions. First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya, is its honorary President.