By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Lindelwa ‘Malindi’ Dlamini, the Senior Sports Officer responsible for the Sports for Development portfolio at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC), is ascending the professional sports fraternity ladder with remarkable strides.
Based in Yaoundé, Cameroon at the AUSC Secretariat HQ, Dlamini has recently been appointed to the Conference of Francophone Ministers of Youth and Sports (CONFEJES) Scientific Committee for the International Women’s Leadership Forum.
Established in December 1969, CONFEJES is an intergovernmental institution dedicated to promoting youth, sports and leisure within the Francophone community, currently comprising 28 French-speaking African nations.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, CONFEJES Secretary General Madam Louisette-Renee Thobi from Senegal (where the CONFEJES HQ is based) formally announced Dlamini’s appointment.
“The Secretary General of the Conference of Francophone Ministers of Youth and Sports (CONFEJES), which consists of 28 French-speaking African nations, Madam Louisette-Renee Thobi, has just appointed Lindelwa Devon Dlamini to the CONFEJES Scientific Committee for the International Women’s Leadership Forum,” reads a statement.
This Committee will bring together the 28 CONFEJES Member States’ Ministries of Youth and Sports, Women Sports bodies on the African continent, international partners and special guests in the field of sports for development, to strengthen the role of sport as a vehicle for empowerment and expression of women’s leadership and inclusion.
When contacted for comment, Dlamini expressed his gratitude for the appointment, noting its significance for the sports for development movement on the continent.
“I am honoured to receive this appointment. I will be collaborating with representatives from various Francophone nations and international bodies and will gain numerous insights as to how they transcend sports for development initiatives for marginalised groups within their regions, therefore I embrace this challenge optimistically. This is directly in line with the AUSC Strategic Plan 2024-2028 Strategic Priority 2 which focusses on promoting equity, inclusion and safeguarding across the continent,” he stated.
Dlamini further articulated that this opportunity would not only enhance his personal growth but also facilitate networking that could yield future benefits for his country once his mandate in Africa concludes.
