Constance Simelane facts for kids

Constance Simelane is an important politician from Eswatini. She made history by becoming the first female Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland. She was first appointed to the Senate in 2001. Later, in 2003, she became the Minister of Education. In October 2006, King Mswati III chose her to be the Deputy Prime Minister. She took over from Albert Shabangu.

About Constance Simelane

Constance Simelane was born to Funwako Simelane and Judith (née LaNkonyane). Her father, Funwako, was a teacher from Swaziland. Her mother, Judith, was born in Amsterdam, Mpumalanga, South Africa. They met when Funwako was teaching in South Africa. They got married in 1940.

Constance was the second of six children. Her older sister, Thandiwe Dlamini, worked for the Red Cross in Swaziland for a long time. She also has two other sisters, Nomcebo and Zandile. Her two brothers are named Dumisa and Sifiso.

Her Father's Work

In 1958, King Sobhuza II of Swaziland asked Constance's father to return to Swaziland. He worked in the district capital. He taught at several high schools. Later, he became an ambassador for different countries. He then returned to Swaziland to serve as a minister for finance. He passed away in 1980.

Her Education and Early Career

After high school, Constance Simelane received a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed her to study at Roosevelt University in Chicago. There, she earned a degree in social sciences. She then continued her studies at the University of Washington. She completed a Master of Business Administration. She also studied advanced purchasing strategies in Austria.

Constance worked as a credit researcher in Chicago. She later moved back to Swaziland. There, she became an assistant secretary in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office. After that, she moved to Ethiopia. She worked for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa.

Her Political Journey

In 2003, Constance Simelane became a member of the House of Assembly of Eswatini. She was one of ten ministers chosen by the monarch, King Mswati III. On the day she was appointed, she was given the important job of Minister of Education.

As Education Minister

During her time as Education Minister, Constance Simelane started a special program. This program helped vulnerable and orphaned children attend primary and secondary school. In Eswatini, there was usually a fee for basic education. Many children needed help to go to school.

She promised to provide money to help these children. She also ordered schools to accept all children who came to enroll. Schools did this, even though they worried if the government would keep its promise. The government did release the funds later.

She also introduced other education programs. These included free school textbooks for children who needed them. She also strongly supported allowing pregnant girls to return to school. Before this, girls were often expelled if they became pregnant. She backed the decision by the Swaziland Schools Headteachers Association.

Becoming Deputy Prime Minister

In 2006, Constance Simelane was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. This happened after Albert Shabangu passed away. She was the first woman to ever hold this important position. This was seen as a big step forward for women's rights groups. She served in this role until 2008.

After leaving her government position, Simelane has continued to speak out. She supports education and women's rights. She talks about many issues related to empowering women in Swaziland.

Other Important Roles

From 2004 to 2005, Constance Simelane held another significant role. She was the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.