Reflecting on Legacy
A few days ago — five days to be precise — was my birthday. I am officially, in my early thirties, an old man, if you may say. I had time and opportunity to reflect on my journey, which then formed the foundation of these remarks.
Specifically, I was drawn to the word “LEGACY”, loosely translated to mean “What one will be remembered for.”
So I asked myself that very same question: “What do I want to be remembered for?”
For instance, the Secretary General of the Forum will undoubtedly be remembered for championing the eradication of child marriages through various frameworks, including the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriages and Protecting Those Already in Marriage.
I must also pay homage to Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, who will be remembered by over 800 children she rescued from the bondage of child marriages.
But again, I ask: “What will you be remembered for?”
Living with Purpose and Impact
Colleagues, herein lies the challenge before us — to live with purpose and to live for impact.
To that end, and as you may be aware, the Forum has over the years pursued an agenda of advocating for legislative, policy, and institutional reform that advances the rights of children, particularly the girl child.
This has been done primarily through the adoption of robust Model Laws, which serve as normative frameworks that can be adopted by SADC Member States.
Specifically, the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriages and Protecting Children Already in Marriage stands as a testament to the Forum’s collective commitment towards addressing the pervasive concern of child marriages that compromise the well-being of children, especially young girls, in Africa.
The Model Law not only seeks to eradicate child marriages but also serves as a protective shield for those already ensnared in such unions. It establishes clear and enforceable guidelines to ensure that the rights and dignity of every child are safeguarded, emphasizing their right to education, health, and a childhood free from exploitation and degrading treatment.
From Intention to Implementation
Colleagues, we find ourselves at the crossroads of deliberation and action.
The Forum has done its part. Your organisations have done their part. The model laws are drafted, the frameworks are established, and they stand as evidence of our collective intention.
But a law on paper is a silent promise. It is only through its full and fervent implementation that it finds its voice.
This, I pray, is where we now turn our hearts. For implementation is the very substance of a life of impact — the tangible expression of our purpose.
And let no one think this duty begins only at the Forum, in Government, or at grand regional summits. No.
It begins at the family table, in the community meeting, in the courage of a neighbour who says, “Not here. Not for our children.”
A Call to Action
I will conclude by saying AMEN, because these were not mere remarks — they were a prayer.
A prayer that the spirit of action would be reignited in every one of us.
A prayer that collaboration becomes our guiding light, recognising that while alone we can go fast, together we can go far.
In that spirit of collaborative action, and as a living homage to a woman who embodied this very principle, the Forum will be implementing the Chief Kachindamoto Public Lecture Series in Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini.
This initiative will carry forward the late Chief’s fearless legacy, turning our solidarity into strategy and strategy into action.
We, therefore, invite all partners and stakeholders to join us in supporting this endeavour and to continue the crucial conversations that will be ignited here over the next few days.
Finally, it was a prayer that as we operate in an increasingly difficult environment — defined by geopolitical tensions, donor fatigue, and the rolling back of hard-won rights, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) — we remain emboldened by the justness of our cause.
That is why Martin Luther King Jr. admonished us when he observed:
“If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
If you can't walk, then crawl,
but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Never has there been positive social change without struggle.
So let us move forward, however we can.
Let us crawl if we must — but let us never, ever stop.
