Zimbabwe: Empowering women at local level to live better lives

My name is Nyarai Mabambe, a councilor for Murewa Rural District Council in Ward 4, Nyamadzawo Village. I am a mushroom farmer, a poultry farmer, a community leader, a mother and a survivor. My journey has been shaped by 33 years of marriage, 17 of which were filled with suffering, fear and emotional violence. For years, I lived under the weight of abuse. I did not participate in community work, leadership, or development structures. Instead, I lived in isolation, silenced by stigma and conditioned to believe that I had no worth outside my home. 

During the early years of my marriage, I was “just a wife”, without agency or voice. My husband attempted to stop me from joining community structures, belittled me, and used violence and insults to control my life. I had no income, no confidence, and no support system. Like many women in rural Zimbabwe, I had internalized patriarchal norms that told me I should remain silent. The turning point came when I was introduced to the Sunrise Campaign, which transformed not only my confidence but the direction of my entire life. Through the Programme, I gained life skills, entrepreneurship training, leadership tools, and most importantly self-esteem. I realized that true development begins with the empowerment of women themselves. 

The change in my life has been profound. What began as a small step into community work grew into a leadership journey? I rose to the position of Chairlady in my political party, ZANU PF, and was later re-elected because of my commitment to improving people’s lives. In 2023, I advanced to a Provincial leadership position as Deputy Secretary for Gender and Culture in Mashonaland East. My personal transformation has positively impacted the entire community. I became an entrepreneur starting a poultry project, savings and lending groups, sewing, and mushroom farming. These ventures not only lifted me out of poverty but enabled me to support other women to start their own income-generating projects. 

Women who once feared speaking in public now confidently participate in decision-making spaces. They attend meetings, express their ideas, and take up leadership roles. My home became a symbol of resilience built from the sweat of my own hands and the skills I acquired after breaking free from abuse. The transformation in my village began with the introduction of mushroom farming and poultry projects. Through training and capacity-building programs, women and youth learned the technical, financial and environmental skills needed to run profitable agricultural ventures. 

These interventions directly addressed poverty, limited economic opportunities, and gender inequality. Before the projects, women were confined to traditional roles. They depended on men financially, had minimal decision-making power, and lacked exposure to income-generating skills. With skills training and group lending models, women gained confidence and started earning money. They could now feed their families, contribute to school fees, manage household needs, and invest in their own businesses. The result has been a vibrant, thriving community where women are key economic actors rather than silent background figures. 

Nyarai Mabambe, Zimbabwe