“I encourage women to be brave”

Tapiwa Kapiche is 33 years old, from Penhalonga, a village in Mutasa, Zimbabwe. After being part of Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe’s (WCoZ) local chapter, Tapiwa has found community and been an inspiration to other women.

A day in the life of Tapiwa

I am a councillor and was appointed on proportional representation for women under the Mutasa Rural District Council. In October 2024, I graduated and I am also a mother of two – my children are 6 and 2 years old. 

I wake up at 5:00am preparing for my kids to go to school. When I used to sell clothes, I would leave for work at 6:00am, start selling my clothes and then pick my kids from school before taking care of them again. I was having challenges with resources for my business, and I use all my funds to pay for my school fees.  

Now, as a councillor, I attend different activities in my ward, like meetings or funerals. I really enjoy engaging with different members in the community. Outside of this, I love playing netball, going out and reading books. 

Challenges facing the community in Mutare

“In Mutare, electricity is not stable and sometimes people don’t have electricity or water for 2-3 days at a time. Job opportunities are also tight. If you don’t have connections, you don’t get an opportunity to work. Young people are now getting into drug abuse because of lack of job opportunities in the community. 

Women in my community are facing gender-based violence and this also causes separation in the families. There’s also a big challenge with economic resources.” 

There are a growing number of single mothers in Tapiwa’s community. 

“This is causing psychological disturbance for women because the moment they separate, children end up not knowing their fathers. I feel pity for the women because [I grew] up without a father after he passed away in 1999. My mother didn’t get married after my dad passed on [and I saw] the challenge that my mother faced for us to go to school.” 

When it comes to work splits in Tapiwa’s community, women are bearing much of the load. 

“Most of the men are not working. They’re being supported by women, because women vend in the streets and they open the markets. Women also take care of the children and take care of their husbands. Most of the men go to the bars and drink beer, then come back and ask what have you cooked.” 

Community and collective learning

Through the Collective Action to Realise Equality (CARE) project, WCoZ started a programme of workshops on feminist leadership, advocacy and public speaking. These trainings built her confidence, leading to Tapiwa becoming a councillor in Mutare. 

“I have now been with WCoZ for five years. [Initially] I went to be brave, to participate and to have more information about gender-based violence and how to tackle the different challenges women face. [From working with WCoZ] I can tell my life has been changed. For me to become a counscillor…this is through the workshops that Nyasha ((WCoZ’s Midlands Chapter Coordinator) would encourage us to attend.” 

“[Working with WCoZ] has impacted me positively because I encourage women to be brave, to participate in different activities in the community and to access reporting and safe shelters. I encourage the women and this motivates me too.” 

Through CARE, WCoZ have been teaching women about wellbeing and self-care. The women in WCoZ’s circle work on their issues together – this is collective action and care. 

“[Women coming together is] important because sometimes I might see my situation as the worst situation. [But when we share] stories, [other women] motivate me to continue working. 

A woman [in the group] was being beaten every day by her husband. [She said her] husband [would] come home drunk and that she wasn’t go to work. So, we encouraged her to start a business of selling tomatoes and onions so that she can get her own money so that [she was not] entirely dependent on the husband. [After six months], now, she is doing well.” 

Leadership as a tool for change

“Women are facing different challenges in the community. [Because] I’m a leader, [people] get motivated by seeing that we have a young councillor. As of now, most of [the women] are saying they want to be councillors, because they’re being motivated by seeing someone [like me] in that position.   

If women continue to work together and attend programmes that motivate them, I think people in Mutare will be end up knowing their rights. If you go to the workshops, you learn about the Constitution of Zimbabwe and our rights as women. We have right to live, to health and education.  

WCoZ has helped us a lot in the community. Most of the women in the community have now joined WCoZ.”