Nyari Mashayamombe – Editor in Chief
In this interview Identities Media (IM) caught up with Ekenia Tapiwa Chifamba (ETC) to catch up and learn about her amazing life. We are thrilled to bring this story to you. Sit back, Relax and Enjoy!
IM: Tell us about yourself
ETC: I am Ekenia Tapiwa Chifamba, born in January 1983 in Chitungwiza, Harare. I am a Girls’ Rights Activist, a multi social entrepreneurship award winner and Director of Shamwari Yemwanasikana.I also sit on various human rights boards.
Academically, I am studying towards a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (University of South Wales) and hold a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources (Zimbabwe Open University).
I founded Shamwari Yemwanasikana in 2013, which means Friend of the Girl Child. The focus of the organization is to develop and empower girls while leaving no one behind.
Our work is on child protection, advocacy, building sustainable livelihoods, girl child empowerment and sexual, reproductive and health rights.
We established clubs for more than 350,000 girls in Zimbabwe named Dandaro Revasikana (safe space overall girls’ empowerment). In these girls’ rights clubs, they get leadership skills, economic empowerment opportunities, career guidance, and confidence building.
I would like to be remembered for facilitating a Girls Rights Movement that will transcend borders and amplify girls’ voices.
IM: What drives the work that you do?
ETC: I wake up daily with the girl child in mind – one who is hopeless, homeless and crying for assistance.
As such after my prayers and Zumba, my next port of call will be to check on girls from our WhatsApp Dandaro Clubs if they are doing well and whether they encountered any issues of concern regarding girls’ rights in their constituencies.
If there are any, I proffer solutions or note them for further action. My passion is thus driven on the need to see the girl child in Zimbabwe copiously empowered to realise the pinnacle of her potential and ability.
IM: What do you see in the near future?
ETC: I foresee myself as Member of Parliament or even being the Minister of Women Affairs.
I envision a Zimbabwe which is able to bring about change and give women a seat at every table – from the community level even the highest of offices. It’s also up to the women to take that stand.
Also, I envisage a Zimbabwe where women and girls hold hands regardless of the generational differences, that they may be there to say; “We are the future, let’s do it now or never and occupy those spaces and resources and also get those opportunities.”
IM: What are your parting words or advice?
ETC: As a woman, I believe that we should propel change in a positive manner – it begins with someone.
We ought to continuously state that I am that someone, it starts with me. Be strongly steered by the conviction to change one girl’s life, even if you manage to change lives of 10 girls, ultimately, we are all collectively well poised to change thousands of girls’ lives.
It is possible – one girl at a time. Zimbabwe has diversity and, in our uniqueness, we can combine our different expertise through expeditiously fighting for girls and women’s rights to achieve SDGs/Agenda 2030.
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