Zimbabwe’s Umholi We Africa Fellows Driving Change

In September, we had the privilege of engaging two outstanding Zimbabwean fellows from the Umholi We Africa program: Simbarashe Kaunyenye (Cohort 3) and Ashley Sango (Cohort 2). Both are already demonstrating the transformative power of placing young leaders within institutions that shape their nations and organizations.

Simbarashe Kaunyenye is pursuing his PhD in Criminology while serving at the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC). In discussions with his principal, it was evident that Simba is poised to make a significant impact even in these early stages of his fellowship. His eagerness to learn, curiosity, and ability to build strong relationships with peers and superiors stood out. What impressed us most was his willingness to immerse himself fully in the inner workings of the Commission getting his hands dirty to understand its processes and contribution to justice in Zimbabwe. He admitted that before his placement, he had not fully appreciated the breadth of ZHRC’s influence across the country.

Our interaction underscored a central truth: when young leaders are given the chance to sit inside the institutions that hold the levers of power, they gain the tools, networks, and experience needed to shape the future of governance across Africa.

Meanwhile, Ashley Sango, serving with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) at the African Union, showcased her leadership on a global stage. During the AWLN Intergenerational Retreat hosted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ashley co-created and led a session on mentorship. Her professionalism and ability to engage across diverse stakeholders spanning different countries, languages, and leadership levels was nothing short of exemplary.

Behind her success stood the guidance of Bineta Diop, Executive Director of AWLN, whose mentorship sharpened Ashley’s capacity to coordinate at such a high level. The retreat, attended by leaders such as H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, and Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, reaffirmed the urgent need to create pathways for young women into leadership. Ashley’s contribution ensured that our fellows and their networks remain at the forefront of this movement.

We are grateful to partners like ZHRC and AWLN for opening doors and working alongside us to create careers of impact. Through these collaborations, we continue to equip a new generation of Africans to lead with vision, integrity, and courage.