Namatai Kwekweza

Namatai Kwekweza is a young Zimbabwean constitutional activist. She has won several awards for her commitment to democracy activism including 2025 German Africa Award and the 2023 Kofi Annan Next Gen Democracy award. Quotes At the end of the day, we have to choose our hard If you're abducted for speaking truth to power, if you're in prison for speaking truth to power, it's hard, but if you're waking up and you're living a life, a shell of a life that is limited in opportunity and possibility, that is also hard. Zimbabwean activist wins German Africa Prize 14 November, 2025 I am who I am because I belong to a successful team and network of people who have taught me authenticity, empathy, service, hope, and courage are important virtues Democracy will not die! Our faith and hope in democracy are cemented by our actions today! Zimbabwean activist Namatai Kwekweza wins inaugural Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize 5 July, 2023 Peace to me, means both the absence of direct violence as well as building sufficient social, economic, and political infrastructure that supports sustainable positive peace. Those who organise war and violence are very deliberate and intentional Peace means that there is access to opportunity, reduced inequality, and systems that advance human potential through human capital development Young people can play a positive role in peacebuilding Therefore, young people can not only be bystanders in peace processes but active leaders and decision-makers There is a need for youth-friendly, feminist, pan-African, and intersectional funding reforms that must happen to ensure addressing global injustices in philanthropy and funding Additionally, the struggle for a better Africa would be more centered around Africans if Africans fund their own struggle Older and younger generations have to participate at all levels of peace initiatives, from project management to project implementation The rights of youth must be respected; intimidation, imprisonment, and all human rights violations must stop to ensure youth feel safe to show up and participate Teaching youth to participate is the most important thing today Youth think that not voting is a protest and are not aware of how politics and decision-making processes affect their social and economic lifestyles Youth must act, or they risk being acted upon Youth must organise to claim space and power Young people feel disenfranchised from the country's economic activities The future is what we make of it through what we do now Take action even when you are afraid Challenge life and inequalities like your life depend on it, because actually, it does! Africa: Zimbabwean Activist Namatai Kwekweza on Youth Activism and Engagement in Peace Processes in Africa 11 August, 2023 External Links Zimbabwean activist wins German Africa Prize Young Zimbabwean activist to receive the 2025 German Africa Award