Young women discuss empowerment at Intwasa Women’s Roundtable and Open Mic
Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) in partnership with Intwasa, conducted an Open Mic session which ran under the Intwasa Women’s Day Roundtable. The Open Mic was attended by female creatives in Bulawayo.
The event facilitated a roundtable discussion on issues that curtail women’s effective participation in electoral processes, leadership and decision-making processes. Female poets recited poems on voter registration encouraging women to register to vote.
Jennifer Chiveya (The Broken Poet) who was one of the poets in attendance recited a poem titled “Democracy”. Through the poem she encouraged young women to register to vote and exercise their democratic rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Young woman, register to vote so as to ensure accountability in public processes!! Voting gives young women the freedom to speak their minds, nothing can match the power of your voice. Get up and exercise your right to choose the leadership you desire,” said Chiveya
Rachael Voko a young woman who also took part in the Open Mic recited a poem titled “Show Up”.
“Register to vote and show up for what you desire and need. Show up for change or stay at home and watch things go haywire. Show up for community development. Young woman, claim your space, voting is your right!!” recited Voko.
Thando the Poet also recited a poem calling upon young women to take their rightful place in nation building through active participation in electoral processes.
“A nation is built by all its people to make it whole and complete. It is a collective effort. Everyone needs to take action to make democracy a reality. Walk with me young woman, vote and safeguard democracy!!” said Thando
Lady Tshawe an award winning artist and renowned poet and also recited a poem titled “The trees are whispering” where she called upon young women to ready their hands to write in the books of history by registering to vote. She went on to highlight that women should be in the frontline of change by registering to vote.
During the Women’s Roundtable, women also discussed the effects of media on women’s participation in public processes under a session titled “Media and the portrayal of women” which was facilitated by Sibusisiwe Bhebhe of Amakhosikazi Media.
Women highlighted that lack of confidence, patriarchy and lack of resources are some of the factors that have relegated women to the periphery of the media for community development agenda. Women were encouraged to have a strong work ethic, get the necessary qualifications and break out of their comfort zones so as to control the media narrative on the portrayal of women.
Closing the event, Barbra Kamba Nyathi a psychotherapist led a discussion on the effects of COVID-19 on women’s financial, emotional and mental wellbeing which has affected their active participation in public processes.