Namatai Kwekweza
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Namatai Kwekweza (born November 30, 1998) is a Zimbabwean human rights activist.[1][2][3]. She is recognized for her work in leadership development within the realms of democracy[4], human rights[5], and pan-Africanism[6]. Kwekweza is the founding director of WELEAD Trust[7], a youth organization in Zimbabwe dedicated to leadership development and advocacy[8][9].
Early life[edit]
Namatai Kwekweza was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. She engaged in public speaking[10] and she was involved in chess competitions during her schooling years[11].
Career[edit]
Namatai is the Director of WELEAD Trust[7], a national organization in Zimbabwe focused on youth leadership and advocacy[8][9]. In 2023, she joined the global youth action team under CIVICUS World Alliance[12]. Kwekweza is also a Ford Global Fellow[13].
As a speaker, Kwekweza has participated in public speaking competitions such as the 2023 Southern Africa Toastmasters International[14] competition. She has also been a panelist and moderator at the 2023 Athens Democracy Forum[15][4] and a panelist at the 2024 Creative Bureaucracy Festival[16]
Kwekweza's early activism[17] and a notable viral speech[18] have contributed to her recognition within the public sphere. Namatai Kwekweza has been actively engaged in constitutionalism[19][20][21], notably taking a stand against Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2 in 2020[20][22][23]. As a result of her advocacy, Kwekweza faced legal consequences and was arrested twice[24][25]. However, her charges were later dropped after the state failed to substantiate its case[26][27][28].
Awards[edit]
- In 2023, Kwekweza became the first recipient of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize[7] from the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Democracy and Culture Foundations at the Athens Democracy Forum[15]
- She was awarded first place in Public Speaking by Toastmasters International Southern Africa District 74[14] and Toastmasters International Division Z[29] in May 2023.
- Namatai was awarded the WalkAbout Prize in 2020 as part of the Next Generation Foresight Practitioner (NGFP)Awards by the School of International Futures.[30]
External links[edit]
- WELEAD website
- "Youth Town Hall Participants at The Summit for Democracy 2024 | U.S. Department of State"
- "Namatai Kwekweza to speak at Athens Democracy Forum", article by Muonde, Elias.
- "Draconian police law challenged in court", article by Gumbodete, Priveledge for The Standard.
References[edit]
- ↑ Mlambo, Nontobeko (2023-08-11). "Africa: Zimbabwean Activist Namatai Kwekweza on Youth Activism and Engagement in Peace Processes in Africa". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Defending Rights Amid Global Shifts in Power | Faculty of Law". www.law.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Zimbabwe Is Not Zanu PF". ZimEye. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Namatai Kwekweza - Founder and Director, WELEAD Trust". www.athensdemocracyforum.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Global Youth Activism Amidst Democratic Decay : Stavros Niarchos Foundation SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins". snfagora.jhu.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ Brownell, Ginanne (2023-10-03). "Across Africa, Young Leaders Emerge to Push for Change". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "25-year old Zimbabwean activist Namatai Kwekweza wins inaugural Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize". Kofi Annan Foundation. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 ZimReview (2023-05-23). "WELEAD Trust Challenges Narrative on Youth Apathy in Elections". ZimReview. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Poverty, unclear electoral system dissuade youths from political participation says advocacy group". Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ Zimbabwean Activist Namatai Kwekweza Gave One Of The Best Speeches You Have Ever Listened To. Retrieved 2024-05-13 – via www.youtube.com.
- ↑ "Mazowe High School, the Chess Masters". The Sunday Mail | The Leading Family Newspaper in Zimbabwe. 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ↑ User, Super (1970-01-01). "Youth Action Team". CIVICUS Global Alliance. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Namatai Kwekweza". Ford Foundation. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 NHUKARUME, EDWIN. "Kwekweza conquers southern Africa in public speaking". NewsDay. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Times, The New York (2023-10-03). "The Countries of Africa Look Ahead With Hope". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Namatai Kwekweza | The Creative Bureaucracy Festival". creativebureaucracy.org. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ↑ "Zanu PF Does Not Own Zimbabwe, Fumes Namatai Kwekweza". ZimEye. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ This 20 year old Girl Shocked Political And Church Leaders This Morning. Retrieved 2024-05-13 – via www.youtube.com.
- ↑ "Constitutional Hearings During Pandemic Provoke Uproar". Global Press Journal. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Activist Namatai Kwekweza Dismisses Constitutional Amendment Bill…". ZimEye. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Namatai Kwekweza to Meet Ziyambi Ziyambi Over Constitutional Amendments". ZimEye. 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "WATCH LIVE: Constitutional Symposium On Amendment Number 2". ZimEye. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Fearless Namatai Kwekweza Breaks Silence. ." ZimEye. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Zimbabwe: Namatai Kwekweza Pleads Not Guilty As Trial Commences". 263Chat. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ↑ Reporter, Staff (2020-07-16). "Namatai Kwekweza Arrested Again". 263Chat. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ↑ "JUST IN: Namatai Kwekweza Acquitted". ZimEye. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Namatai Kwekweza Set Free". ZimEye. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ Correspondent, Own (2021-09-23). "Pro-Democracy Activist Namatai Kwekweza Freed". 263Chat. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ Standard, The. "Building narratives: Kwekweza wins global speech contest". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "NGFP Fellows - NGFP". 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
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