“I Wanted My Soul to Dance in the Wind”, Gumbonzvanda’s Acceptance Speech.

 Acceptance Speech : Women’s Human Rights Defenders Awards 2011

 Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA): Nyaradzayi  Gumbonzvanda

30 July 2011

It is with such humility that I accept this award: ZWLA Women Human Rights Defenders award for 2011. I do celebrate and affirm my co-nominees Alec Muchadehama and Mary Ndlovu for their commitment and passion for protection of human rights. This is a special recognition conferred by a leading professional women’s organisation advancing the human rights of women and girls nationally and globally.

This award, launched in 2007  has been conferred to some of leading human rights advocates and defenders of our time: Prof Julie Stewart, Honourable Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza, Dr Amy Tsanga, Justice Rita Makarau, Priscilla Chigumba and Sarudzai Njerere. Mentors in my own life, I am humbled to join this revered league of human rights advocates. Continue reading

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda Recieves the Zimbabwe Women’s Human Rights Defenders Award, 2011

PRESS RELEASE:   Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association

Women’s Human  Rights Defenders Awards, 2011

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda - 2011 Awardee

(Harare. 30 July 2011) a question has been posed why the need to form an organization by female lawyers for the advancement  and protection of women’s rights.  This came about as an observation of the vast challenges women still face, and its belief that Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) has a duty to help them.

“Women have suffered under various economic and socio-political challenges alongside men. They’ve also had to cope with discriminatory laws and deeply entrenched gender inequality”. For this reason, ZWLA acknowledges and honours the women and men who are working at local, regional and global level to advocate for women’s rights as well as working tirelessly to defend women.

Today ZWLA conferred the third annual Women’s Human Rights Defenders Awards to human rights defenders who have been working at different levels of activism. The  winner of the award  is Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda and the runner up is Alec Muchadehama. Continue reading

People Care for Children Living with HIV: RMT Meets Project Target in 6 Months for Children in Murewa

The world continues to care for its children and for people living with HIV. Barely 8 months since RMT submitted a project request on Global Giving for supporting access to treatment and education for children living with HIV in Murewa, 95% of funds have been raised through 160 special gifts.

This week, RMT will be commissioning 12 special digital stories with some of the children and their care-givers who have are involved in this project. A partnership with SAFAIDS and AJWS, it is important to give voice and visibility to people living with HIV in resource poor communities, who continue to have hope amidst all odds.

RMT invites you to partner, to support and continue to give hope to our children and families in Murewa. We are a click away: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/treatment-literacy-for-hiv-positive-children/.

We are present in ward 8 and 17 in Murewa, Zimbabwe; reaching more than 5,000 people in 32 villages.