A groundbreaking cross-border cultural exchange programme is bringing young women from South Africa and Zimbabwe together through the Imiklomelo ka Dakamela initiative.
The initiative was recently presented to South Africa’s portfolio committee on women, youth and persons with disabilities in parliament.
A board member of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Thembisile Mahuwa, outlined outcomes from a youth exchange held earlier this month in Nkayi.
Mahuwa said 11 young women from South Africa were initially selected, but only four could travel due to passport processing delays.
Participants came from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Despite the reduced numbers, the four-day exchange proved highly impactful, she said.
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“The young women spent four days interacting with young people from that side, sharing cultural experiences and building relationships that will continue beyond the programme,” Mahuwa said.
A follow-up exchange is planned for June in South Africa, where youth from Nkayi will participate in the Inhlese yakwa Maimai Lalela Tshitshi Programme, supported by the NYDA.
Imiklomelo ka Dakamela coordinator Desmond Ntini welcomed the parliamentary recognition.
“It is humbling that Nkayi District is being discussed at such an august house. We hope these exchanges will continue with other countries across Africa and beyond,” Ntini said.
Ntini said the Amatshitshi Programme addresses critical social challenges including health awareness, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse — part of Chief Dakamela’s “Not in My Village” campaigns.
Patricia Tshabalala, leader of Intombi zeMhlahlandlela, added: “There is nothing as good as when a girl preserves herself until marriage.”
She called for stronger government support to strengthen youth protection programmes while respecting children’s rights.