IN a matter of days, from March 18 to 23, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) holds presidential elections of great significance in that, in one of the rarest moments, an African candidate has raised a hand to contest.
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, an IOC Executive Board member with impeccable credentials. In my view, the fact that she is also a woman bears great meaning and implications. For far too long, women’s progress the world over has been held back by my tendencies, such as misogyny and male chauvinism. Coventry’s decision and resolve to contest against a string of powerful men from the so-called developed world is already a massive victory for Africa and the Global South in particular.
Also of immeasurable importance, Coventry is the only woman running for the…
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Sunday Independent (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2025-03-16