From 18 to 22 August 2025, I had the profound honor of participating in the Civil Society Forum hosted by the Southern African Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (SAf-CNGO) in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Though I missed last year’s convening, walking into this year’s forum felt right, purposeful, and divinely designed. The timing could not have been more perfect. It was as if God and my ancestors had set this moment aside for me, to learn, to heal, to lead, and to connect.
This forum, held alongside the SADC Heads of State Summit, gathered activists, researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors from across Southern Africa. Together, we wrestled with the pressing challenges facing our region while exploring opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and transform.
None of this would have been possible without the remarkable organizing work done by SAf-CNGO and the unwavaring support of partners who made this convening a reality: Gender Links, Amnesty International, Southern Africa Trust, Transparency International, CRINSA, the Global Campaign for Education, the Marang Fund, and the WOSSO Fellowship itself.
Their collective commitment to civil society, women’s leadership, advocacy, and justice is not just inspirational — it is transformational.
On the first day, I walked into a panel already in progress — a deeply engaging session on the backlash against LGBTQIA+ rights, funding cuts, and the violence marginalized communities continue to endure. This session included powerful panelists from The Other Foundation and the Marang Fund.
I raised a question on land access inequalities, particularly for LGBTQIA+ individuals, a matter that is often overlooked but deeply consequential. Crystal, one of the powerful panelists from Cape Town responded with honesty and depth, highlighting the compounded economic and social injustices that LGBTQIA+ communities face.
It was a reminder that our advocacy must always remain intersectional, inclusive, and rooted in dignity for all — regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
That day set the tone. The forum was not just about dialogue; it was about truth-telling, and for me, it was profoundly healing. I made friends, sisters, and comrades — women whose stories, resilience, and visions for justice inspired me. I walked away from those first conversations feeling grounded in solidarity, my spirit nourished by connection and sisterhood.
The second day centered on women’s political participation, a session facilitated by Susan Tolmey and Ialfine PAPISY from Gender Links. Here, we unpacked the painful realities of violence in politics — threats, harassment, technology-facilitated abuse, and systemic intimidation.
We also reflected on women’s representation in parliaments across SADC and the progress of the Maputo Protocol.
As a woman who is actively engaged in South African politics, this conversation resonated deeply. It was not theoretical — it was my lived experience. To sit among sisters who knew these wounds, who also carried these scars, was both painful and empowering. It reminded me that our struggles are not isolated but collective. Together, we carry the fire for change.
On this gender day, I also stepped fully into my role as a WOSSO Fellow, joining and co-facilitating the Climate Justice and WASH group. Out of this work was born something truly historic: the TANA25 Climate Justice Working Group, a dynamic network of 25 participants from Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho.
Despite language barriers, we used tools like Google Translate and this was before one of the participants, Johannah Rakotoarison stepped up to help with translation. This assisted us to collaborate seamlessly. That in itself was a testament to what is possible when people are united by purpose. We built something new, something that will outlast the convening — a living example of collective action.
The broader objective of gender day was to create spaces of dialogue between women’s rights organizations, civil society, state actors, and other stakeholders. It was a chance to reflect on challenges, propose solutions, and strengthen alliances for the advancement of gender equality across the region.
For me, it was also an affirmation of why women must continue leading and why our presence in spaces of governance and decision-making remains non-negotiable.
This was not just a convening of speeches and notes; it was a celebration of African spirit. We sang. We danced. Because what is an African convening without music, rhythm, and joy? These moments of celebration reminded me that our activism is not only about resisting oppression but also about reclaiming joy, honoring culture, and embodying resilience.
One recommendation I would like to submit to this forum is the need to broaden the spaces we create for dialogue. As we convene each year to address SADC’s regional challenges, why not include sports and entertainment? These industries are not separate from politics and justice — they are riddled with issues of gender equality, exclusion, and violence.
Imagine, for example, inviting the likes of Caster Semenya to share her lived experience as a woman athlete who has endured immense backlash and abuse.
We could also host a “civil society talent evening” where participants express themselves through art, poetry, and music. I was especially moved when SAF-CNGO’s Executive Director, Mr. Lebogang Mabotho, performed at our WOSSO graduation.
That amazing performance got me thinking: why not create space during the forum to highlight the role of art and entertainment in driving social change?
The convening drew to a close with the media press briefing by relevant stakeholders and the presentation of the Civil Society Statement to the Government of Madagascar. Final inputs remain open until Friday, 29 August, but already the statement stands as more than words on paper — it is a roadmap for action, a collective cry against global and regional backlash, and a foundation for the battles that lie ahead.
During what is described as having been a warm and engaging reception with the Minister of Population and Solidarity, the preliminary draft was received with openness. Leaders such as Rama Andirianiaina called boldly for diversity training in Madagascar, while the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance amplified these demands.
These moments remind us of the opportunities we must seize — spaces where hearts can shift, minds can expand, and institutions can be reshaped for justice and equality.
This three-day SAF-CNGO Civil Society Forum was transformative. It was healing. It was inspiring. I left with new knowledge, deep friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose. The connections I made, the visions we shared, and the commitments we declared all reaffirmed why civil society must continue to rise.
Madagascar hosting this year’s forum — and now chairing SADC — made this convening deeply symbolic. It was a reminder that history is alive, and that change happens when we gather, when we organize, when we dance, when we sing, and when we fight for justice together.
I am profoundly grateful to SAF-CNGO, the organizers, the speakers, and every participant who made this forum possible.
I leave Antananarivo not just inspired, but determined. Because when women lead, when marginalized voices are amplified, when civil society unites, we do not just imagine a better future — we build it.
Camagu SAF-CNGO, WOSSO and all the Comrades that participated and made this experince so awesome.
Izodibana kwindibano elandelayo.
