09/11/2025
On the Rocks, They Rise: Sista2Sista Gives Mangwe Girls Hope
By RBK Reporter| Macingwane, Mangwe Ward 12 | 8 November 2025
Every Wednesday afternoon, laughter drifts from a patch of rocks at the Macingwane Business Center. The heat doesn’t bother the girls who gather there, sitting in a loose circle, sipping refreshments, and listening as they talk about life.
This is where the Sista2Sista girls of Macingwane meet, sometimes once a week, sometimes twice under the steady guidance of their mentor, Leloba Ngwenya, a calm and grounded woman in her early thirties.
The girls range from their early teens to their early twenties. Some are young mothers, others finished school but couldn’t afford to continue. One of them scored an impressive 13 points at A-Level in 2023 but has not yet managed to proceed to university. A few have good O-Level passes and still dream of returning to school. Financial challenges cut through their ambitions, but hope remains their shared language.
The Sista2Sista program, run by the National AIDS Council (NAC), gives them something rare, a safe space to talk, to learn, and to grow. Each week, they meet to discuss sexuality, relationships, self-esteem, and the pressures that come with being young women in rural communities. They get refreshments at every meeting and receive sanitary pads once a month, small but meaningful tokens that restore dignity and belonging.
In Matabeleland South, teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections continue to pose a serious threat to young girls’ futures. NAC data shows that teenage antenatal bookings rose from 187 in early 2024 to 231 by the first quarter of 2025. The 20–24 age group recorded 42 new HIV infections as of August 2025, the highest among women. Mangwe District now carries the highest incidence rate in the province and the second-highest HIV prevalence after Bulilima.
The statistics tell one side of the story. The other unfolds quietly on the ground, in homes and villages where migration patterns shape relationships and risk. Many men from Mangwe work across the border in Botswana and South Africa and return home at year’s end with money, gifts, and charm. Locally, they’re called injiva. Their return, though eagerly awaited, often comes with hidden costs.
When the injiva come home, they find these young girls glowing with hope, newly confident through programs like Sista2Sista. But the attention, the gifts, and the promises can blur judgment.
“They confuse the girls,” says Leloba gently. “Some feel special, others feel like they owe something in return. It’s difficult to say no when someone showers you with Amakhumkhum, money, perfumes, and new clothes.”
It’s in these moments that the strength of Sista2Sista is tested. Through discussions, drama, role-plays, and honest conversations, the girls learn that empowerment isn’t just about saying no, it’s about knowing their worth. It’s about understanding that gifts are not debts and kindness does not demand a body in exchange.
“We talk about that a lot,” says one 18 year old. “We talk about love, school, money, and how to stay strong. Sometimes it’s hard, but being together helps.”
For many, these gatherings fill what would otherwise be long, empty afternoons, a time when temptation or peer pressure might take root. Instead, they choose to meet on the rocks, to listen, to learn, and to hold each other accountable.
Across Zimbabwe, Sista2Sista has reached tens of thousands of young women. But here in Macingwane, its impact feels deeply personal. It’s not just a program, it’s a lifeline woven between laughter, learning, and shared dreams.
As the sun sinks behind the hills, the girls pack their bags and wave to passing scotch-carts and cars on the Plumtree road. Their laughter fades into the wind, leaving behind a quiet promise that tomorrow, they’ll meet again.
For these girls, protection is no longer just a word. It’s a practice shaped on the rocks, strengthened by sisterhood, and lived out one conversation at a time.
