Hilda Suka-Mafudze
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Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze | |
|---|---|
| Permanent Representative of African Union to United States | |
| In office October 2020 – present | |
| Preceded by | Arikana Chihombori-Quao |
| Former Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Sudan and South Sudan | |
| In office 2010–2019 | |
| Member of Parliament of Zimbabwe | |
| In office 2000–2005 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | |
Hilda Suka-Mafudze is a Zimbabwean diplomat and politician who has served as the African Union Ambassador to the United States since October 2020.[1] She is a former Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe and has held several ambassadorial postings, representing Zimbabwe in Sudan, South Sudan, and Malawi.[2]
Suka-Mafudze was born in Zimbabwe. In 2006, she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Gender Development from the Women’s University in Africa. In 2013, she obtained a Master of Arts in International Relations and World Order from the University of Leicester in the UK.[3]
Career
In 2000, Suka-Mafudze was elected as a member of Zimbabwe Parliament.[4] She advocated for marginalized groups and served on parliamentary committees on social services, women’s empowerment, and community development until 2005.[5]
In 2009, Suka-Mafudze was appointed as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Sudan during a period of political transition and humanitarian challenges. After South Sudan’s independence in 2011, she also continued her service as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the newly formed country.[6]
In 2019, Suka-Mafudze was appointed as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Malawi, where she worked on strengthening trade, education exchange, and regional cooperation.[7] While in Malawi, she chaired the group of 16 regional ambassadors representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC).[8]
In October 2020, Suka-Mafudze was appointed as the African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United States, based in Washington, D.C succeeding Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao. In this role, she is responsible for representing the African Union’s 55 member states, fostering diplomatic engagement with the U.S. government, Congress, civil society, and the African diaspora.[9][10]