First Ladies Duniani: Graca Machel

Friday 20 September 2013

Graca Machel

Graca Machel, born Graca Simbine, is the third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel. She is a politician, humanitarian and an international advocate for women's and children rights. She is also an international advocate for women's and children's rights and in 1997 was made a British dame for her humanitarian work.

Graca Machel was born on 17th October, 1945 in rural Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique. She attended Methodist schools and later studied German at the University of Lisbon in Portugal with a scholarship. Graca Machel also speaks French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English, as well as her native Tsonga.

Graca is the only woman in history to have been First Lady of two different countries, serving as the First Lady of Mozambique from 1975 to 1986 and the First Lady of South Africa from 1998 to 1999.

Graca married her first husband Samora Machel in 1975. Samora Machel died in a plane crash over South Africa in 1986, the couple had two children, Josina Machel (daughter) and Malenga Machel (son).

She married her second husband, South African President Nelson Mandela on 18th July, 1998 on his 80th birthday. Mandela and Graca do not have any children, though Mandela has children from her previous marriages and Graca has two children from her previous marriage with former president of Mozambique.

For her long standing humanitarian work, particularly on behalf of refugee children Graca received the 1995 Nansen Medal from the United Nations. She was also one of the two winners of the North - South prize in 1998.

Graca currently serves as the chair of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) Eminent Advisory Board.