Celebrating IDAHOBIT with Pakasipiti

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Womankind’s partner Pakasipiti aims to advocate for change in Zimbabwe by challenging patriarchy, embracing diversity and using dialogue for transformation for lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.  

Womankind works in partnership with Pakasipiti  to strengthen the feminist movement in Zimbabwe. Pakasipiti are currently supported by Womankind’s Movement Strengthening Fund for their initiative: ‘Expanding Spaces, Diversifying Voices’ and are also beginning a project focusing on the inclusion and participation of the LBTQ community in democratic processes in Zimbabwe.

We spoke to the Pakasipiti team and members of their network about their journeys into activism, healing justice and what IDAHOBIT means to them. 

“We had a space we could call ours”

Nonhlanhla Ndlovu’s journey into feminist movement building began at 16. Growing up in a rural area, she felt ‘different’. With no access to information or services, many girls fell pregnant at a young age and left school early. When Nonhlanhla moved to the city, she saw the struggle of being a young woman and how inequality was accepted within society. After having her children, she felt she needed to do something. But, as a bisexual woman, she knew that this would come with challenges.  

Male voices were the most prominent in the LGBTQI+ movement but after meeting Pakasipiti’s Director, Patience Mandishona, she was galvanised to act on the drive and passion she had. 

“We really felt we now belonged. We had a space we could call ours. For the first time felt at home.”

Since 2017, Nonhlanhla has been an activist and key volunteer mobiliser for Pakasipiti in their feminist movement building initiatives. She continues to push for true recognition of LBQ community members. 

“This IDAHOBIT, I am celebrating my strength. It is really difficult to be living as a queer person in Zimbabwe. I recognise and celebrate my own strength living through such difficult times and still at the end of the day come out as myself.”

“Being part of Pakasipiti ignited the light in me”

Kudzai Kanyere is an instrumental young community member who has worked with Pakasipiti mobilising women and LBQ people around movement building through sport.  

Before Pakasipiti they were a student trying to work out where they stood in the world and where they belonged. They started as Pakasipiti’s Programs Intern.  

“Being part of Pakasipiti ignited the light in me. Through feminism, collective healing, healing justice all within the LGBTQIA++ community.”

Kudzai is passionate about the empowerment of women in their diversities. They saw sport as a way to strengthen the movement. 

“As a sports person who struggled to thrive in a male dominated industry, I started to find my way and my voice while at Pakasipiti. Quite a number of people my age were into sport and were trying to find their voice too. They too realised they could be part of the movement.” 

“This IDAHOBIT, I am celebrating the progress we have made so far. We have organisations specifically focused on LBQ women. People are really speaking out with us, getting us in to spaces. IDAHOBIT celebrations encourages us to work together and find different answers to different questions.  It encourages the community as a whole to continue to do better and know that we are stronger together.”

“Coming together is a force to bring transformative change” 

Shamiso Khumalo is a storyteller and plays a key role in documenting and sharing LBQ narratives in Zimbabwe in a number of ways.  

“My journey with Pakasipiti has been a space where I’ve seen myself come out of my shell, where I realised that I also have a role to play in emancipating LBQ women in Zimbabwe by actively participating in the spaces they have provided, from the safe platforms to dialogue to the wellness platforms.”

Shamiso sees storytelling as a powerful tool for LBQ women who have previously been marginalised and silenced as “elevating the stories and narratives of LBQ women ensures that they become a part the agenda.” 

“We are mainly pushing narratives around inclusion of women in all their diversity and around all issues from social, economic and political – to not just look at LBQ women as victims of abuse and recipients of health services only.” 

“Pakasipiti has helped me and empowered me on my storytelling journey. I have had the opportunity to interact with members of the community that Pakasipiti work with from all across Zimbabwe, listening and documenting their stories and appreciating the diversity of issues of the LBQ community in all regions.” 

“This IDAHOBIT I am celebrating what we stand for as Pakasipiti and that has always been our motto “celebrating strength in diversity”. For us it’s important to realise and continue pushing for the strength within us in our diversities and how coming together is a force to bring transformative change.” 

“We will continue to reclaim the spaces for LBQ women” 

 Pakasipiti are amplifying the voices of LBQ women in difference spaces, leading key advocacy work for the LBQ community and producing key research and reports with meaningful results. 

Sheila Mwale from Pakasipiti shared, “One of Pakaspiti’s recommendations was adopted by the government of Zimbabwe in the most recent Universal Periodic Review, which is a huge, huge gain.”  

“In Zimbabwe, we are currently in election mode. We are trying as much as possible to give information on political participation, issues around mental health and how we are providing space for collective healing. Right now, there is an economic meltdown and political instability in Zimbabwe. We are trying to provide space where we can really talk about the challenges we have and see how we can help and learn from each other.” 

Pakasipiti’s impactful role in the feminist movement is clear and their message from Pakaspiti to mark this year’s IDAHOBIT shows just that: 

“We will continue to reclaim the spaces for LBQ women. We will increase visibility so we can be recognised and be known. We will be acknowledged as LBQ. “ – Sheila Mwale, Pakasipiti

With thanks to the Pakasipiti team: Patience, Teclah, Sheila, Kudzai, Nonhlanhla and Shamiso.