Keynote

Honourable, Angela Thoko Didiza 

Speaker of the National Assembly, Parliament of South Africa

Honourable Thoko Didiza is the elected Speaker of the National Assembly in the 7th Parliament of South Africa. She was the youngest member of the first Executive Government appointed as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture by President Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999. Soon after she rose to Ministerial positions starting as the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs between 1999 and 2006, then to Minister of Public Works from 2006 to 2008.

In 2008, she took leave from the Executive and ventured into the farming and food business. Between 2011 and 2014 she was the Project Manager at the University of South Africa responsible for the establishment of the Archie Mafeje Research Institute on Applied Social Policy. She returned to Parliament in 2014 to 2019 to become the House Chairperson of the National Assembly, responsible for internal arrangements. Between 2019 and 2024, she was the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Honourable Didiza worked in several companies, first as a legal secretary and programme officer. She also held numerous leadership positions such as the Youth Co-ordinator of the South African Council of Young Women Christian Association and Secretary General of the Women’s National Coalition that produced the Women’s Charter for Effective Equality that was tabled in the first Parliament of South Africa.

Honourable Didiza entered politics through anti-apartheid activism, initially in Christian organisations and women's groups. She was the inaugural secretary-general of the Women's National Coalition in 1992. Mrs Didiza is a dedicated, results-oriented politician and professional with a proven record of accomplishment in creating and implementing developmental and growth-stimulating policies and negotiating win-win solutions for the citizens.

Honourable Didiza possesses a broad knowledge of South Africa and Africa’s economic, social and political understanding, with extensive first-hand experience in agriculture, land affairs, infrastructure development, and rural

economic sectors. Ms Didiza holds a Master's degree in Tertiary Education Management, an Honours in Politics, and a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Sociology and Politics. She has several Diplomas in Journalism, Business and Financial Management, Public Relations and Personnel and Training Practice. She was nominated as one of the Young Global Leaders by the Klaus Schwab Foundation in 2005.

Co-Host

Ambassador Macenje Che Che Mazoka

H.E. Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka is the High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the United Kingdom, and concurrently serves as Ambassador to Ireland and to the Holy See. She plays a leading role in advancing Zambia’s diplomatic, trade, and investment agenda, while representing the country across multilateral platforms such as the Commonwealth and the African Union Heads of Mission Group in London. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Board of Governors and as Chair of the Economic Committee of the AU Heads of Mission Group in London.

With over three decades of international experience spanning communications, strategy, and partnership development, Ms. Mazoka brings a unique blend of media expertise and policy insight to her leadership. Before her diplomatic appointment, she held senior roles at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), where she championed strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and policy innovation. She has also worked with the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States, and taught graduate courses in Media Literacy and Ethics.

Widely recognised for her ability to connect people and ideas across sectors, Ms. Mazoka is a passionate advocate for inclusive and innovative approaches to Africa’s development. She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University, an M.A. in Media Management from The New School in New York, an Executive Management Development Certification from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa and more recently a Certification from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme 2025. In October 2025, Mazoka received the African Embassy and Ambassador of the Year award at the London Political Summit and Awards in the UK Parliament’s House of Commons.