Zimbabwe: Paving the way for gender equality and inclusive youth leadership in mutare
My name is Nicole Tanatswa Jumbi, an 18yearold Junior Town Clerk working with the City of Mutare Junior Council. Born and raised in Manicaland, I grew up witnessing the everyday realities of gender inequality, discrimination, and the silent struggles of children and youth in my community. Girls battled marginalization and limited opportunities. Boys were forced into rigid stereotypes that discouraged emotional expression. Children living with disabilities were excluded from leadership and civic spaces.
From a young age, I realized that instead of waiting for change, I needed to be the change. With the support of the City of Mutare Junior Council, I began advocating for equality, inclusion, and youth safety. What sets my leadership apart is that my activism is rooted in a belief that gender equality is not a women’s fight but a human fight, a journey towards ensuring that both boys and girls stand at the same starting line.
Through my position, I worked to ensure that no child or youth gets left behind, particularly those who are vulnerable to discrimination, exclusion, fire hazards, and road accidents. My unique strength lies in my commitment to uplift both girls and boys, creating balanced and empowering spaces for everyone. My leadership journey first transformed me personally and then began transforming my community.
I learned to see every person as equal despite physical differences. My confidence, self-esteem, academic performance, and social engagement improved. With this personal empowerment came the courage to empower others. Through the My Future, My Responsibility campaign, boys were encouraged to value education, avoid drug abuse, and understand gender equality. The workshops shifted their mindsets, helping them recognize their role as protectors rather than perpetrators of violence.
They learned that peaceful coexistence is possible, and necessary. Girls gained access to sanitary wear, food supplies, and empowerment workshops that boosted their confidence and challenged internalized limitations. They learned to value themselves, speak up, and dream beyond traditional expectations. One of my proudest achievements was advocating for the inclusion of children living with disabilities.
Through the No One Left Behind Initiative during the International Week of the Deaf, young people learned sign language and embraced the principle that disability is not inability. We coopted a brilliant deaf young woman into the Junior Council, making the institution a safe, stigmafree space. She now plays a key role in decisionmaking under the mantra: “Nothing for us without us.”
Our Junior Council now has two members who are differently abled living proof that leadership belongs to everyone. I also championed children's protection by advocating for road markings and safety measures. Reduced road accidents near schools are a visible testament to better safety. Through fire safety campaigns, many families and young people now know emergency contact numbers and fire prevention strategies. Veld fire incidents have significantly decreased because of community awareness.
Nicole Tanatswa Jumbi, Zimbabwe
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