The Accountability Lab Zimbabwe’s alumni continue to advance social impact and civic engagement work . Singers, filmmakers, poets, civic leaders and civil servants are delivering projects that address critical development issues, including social justice, mental health, governance, disability rights, and climate action.

Through creative and innovative means, this ecosystem is engaging communities, amplified marginalized voices, and demonstrated how to strengthen accountability, civic participation, and social cohesion.

This article highlights the work and impact of ALZ alumni between April and September 2025, showcasing the achievements of Banshee, Jabu Mudzova, Mary Mundeya, Chioniso Tsikisai, Courteney Mukoyi, SOX the Poet, Tsepang Thembani Nare, Marve Tee, Oxzy, Natsiraishe Maritsa, Roselily Ushewekunze, Star, Fundile Nkala, Simon Zinhoro, Tariro Zitsenga, and Audrey Tasaranarwo, whose creativity and civic engagement continue to drive social change across Zimbabwe.

Banshee – 2023 Voice to Rep artist. 

     

2025 has been a landmark year for,  Banshee, marked by creative growth across music, film, fashion, and community engagement. She released two EPs, I Am and S(Hee), that explore themes of social justice, mental health, and identity, and contributed the song Maya to the Mavara Embizi EP. Her S(Hee) project extended into film, with a short visual piece that has been recognized as the first of its kind in Zimbabwe. 

On stage, she hosted her first hip hop event to a full house and hosted the Green Cities Expo under Shoko Festival. Beyond music, she launched Kamelanin by Bhanshee, a pan-Africanist clothing brand rooted in gender, climate justice, and Black pride. Internationally, she represented Zimbabwe at the ASM Baraza Festival in Accra, Ghana. She also deepened her role as a thought leader and storyteller through The Big Bhan Theory with Big Bhanshee podcast and a new blog exploring pressing societal themes.

Jabu Mudzova – 2023 Film Fellow.

Jabu Mudzova, received international recognition for his film Residue at Stockholm City Film Festival. The film explores socio-economic challenges facing youth today. The film was named a Semi-Finalist at the Stockholm City Film Festival, highlighting the universal relevance of its themes, including unemployment, inequality, and resilience.

   

“So far, the film has been successful, having screened in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Stockholm City Film Festival, the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, and in Brazil at the Brazil New Visions Film Festival, with our lead actress, Charmaine R. Mujeri, scooping the Best Actress award. We are quite happy that it’s on a strong festival run and that there’s solid local demand for more screenings. In terms of the film’s narrative and its ties to accountability and governance, with a strong emphasis on mental health and words unsaid, for me, it paints a beautiful picture of how young people experience the country. It touches on finances and past traumas, presenting them all in a quintessentially Zimbabwean storytelling style. It gives people space to reflect on their journeys and what it means to live a Zimbabwean life, highlighting the need to ultimately take control in the face of so many unprecedented challenges, even as life keeps moving forward, “says Jabu

 

  

Mary Mundeya – 2022 Film Fellow.

 In June 2025 , Mary Mundeya, was selected as one of the journalists awarded an International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) scholarship to the Arizona State University Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Editing Programme. This opportunity allows her to hone her investigative reporting and editing skills through world-class training alongside a global cohort of journalists and strengthening her editorial judgment, newsroom leadership, and capacity to commission and support impactful, accountability-driven investigative reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

Chioniso Tsikisai’s –  2024 Film Fellow.

Chioniso Tsikisai continues to excel in exploring her creative abilities. In April, she premiered an experimental fusion of spoken word and film project, weaving a Pan-African tale of a continent in search of a new hairstylist.

The piece explored poetry as a universal exchange booth, where collective and foreign experiences converge within our shared humanity.

In June, she performed at Sofar Sounds in Harare, and in July she brought her voice to the global stage at World Kulcha 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courteney Takura Mukoyi – 2020 Accountability Entrepreneur.

 This year , Courteney Takura Mukoyi launched Decoding Crypto, a new series under the Justice Code Foundation.

The initiative equips human rights defenders, NGOs, and community organisers with practical knowledge on decentralised finance (DeFi) and its relevance to accountability work. The series also explores alternatives to centralized systems, offering secure, transparent, and traceable financial transactions.

Justice Code has also partnered with the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) to develop and implement a web-crawling AI tool that monitors human rights violations online. The tool scans digital platforms to detect and flag violations, creating new possibilities for documentation and advocacy in restrictive environments.

Justice Code is also working with the National Endowment for Democracy to train human rights organizations on financial freedom, focusing on digital currencies and cryptocurrencies. The program emphasizes the intersection of human rights and economic autonomy, building capacity for civil society to leverage digital finance in advancing accountability and independence.

Beyond Zimbabwe, Justice Code is collaborating with the World Liberty Congress to support human rights defenders in using Bitcoin, AI, and decentralized technologies such as Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays (NOSTR). This technology allows secure, censorship-resistant sharing of information, similar to platforms like Signal, demonstrating how blockchain and decentralized systems can empower activists and safeguard civic participation.

SOX the Poet – 2022 ALZ Film Fellow.

For a year now,  SOX the Poet (Sondlane Dube), founder of We Cre8te Afrika has been consistent in bringing the community together at Alliance Française de Bulawayo for his monthly Words Matter Show. He has created a space where local socially conscious artists share their stories, sparked conversations, and connect with audiences, turning words into action.

 Through We Cre8te Afrika, SOX has created a thriving ecosystem of socially conscious creatives, helping young artists collaborate, amplify their voices, and use art to reflect and transform society. Read more about his journey and impact HERE

Tsepang Thembani Nare – 2024 Accountability Entrepreneur.

 

Tsepang Thembani Nare, has obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Local Governance and Management and was awarded the ZIMDEF Award for Overall Best Male Undergraduate with Disability. 

In May 2025, Tsepang Nare, alongside Nokutenda Muzuva from Chitungwiza, demonstrated active citizen agency by supporting persons with disabilities (PWDs) in petitioning Parliament for a more inclusive and progressive disability law.

Described as a “historic and emotional moment,” this effort represents a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s ongoing struggle for disability rights and highlights the critical role civic actors play in strengthening public participation and accountability in policymaking. Read more about the petition HERE

 

 

“The petition has amplified the voices of persons with disabilities, resulting in massive media attention to set the agenda, raise public awareness, and debunk misinformation surrounding the aspirations and desires of Persons with disabilities about the Persons with disabilities bill. Through this petition, our standpoint became clear,” says Tsepang. 

Marve Tee – 2020 Voice to Rep. 

Through her participation in the Simunye Inclusive Arts Initiative (SIAI), in May 2025, Marve Tee continues to deepen her artistic practice by shifting from personal expression to socially conscious music-making. 

The program exposed her to new perspectives, particularly from people with disabilities often excluded from mainstream narratives, reshaping her approach to songwriting as a tool for inclusion, healing, and social change. Building on earlier platforms like Voice2Rep, Simunye equipped her with the skills and confidence to address issues such as inequality, discrimination, climate vulnerability, and disability rights through music. Her experience demonstrates how inclusive arts initiatives not only expand creative horizons but also transform artists into agents of accountability and advocates for marginalized voices.

“Participating in the Simunye Inclusive Arts Initiative (SIAI) was a plus for me, as the platform adds to what I’ve learnt from other spaces like Voice2Rep. SIAI has been truly transformative, not only for my growth as an artist but also for the message and purpose behind my music. Before the program, I saw music as a personal form of expression, creating music with a live band and composing contemporary Tongan songs. However, through Simunye, I realized its true power as a tool for social change, inclusion, and healing,” says Marve Tee.

Oxzy – 2022 Voice to Rap artist.

 For rapper and activist Oxzy, the year has been marked by bold storytelling, impactful music, and grassroots leadership. In February, he released two singles: “Musacheme,” addressing gender-based violence, and “Izidakamizwa,” which explored Zimbabwe’s drug and substance abuse crisis and was later accompanied by a music video in June. In August, he released That’s Wassup, celebrating resilience and hard work.

“The song’s message of resilience and support inspire listeners to make positive changes in their lives, such as seeking help for addiction or supporting loved ones struggling with substance abuse. Impact continues to be made as the comment section is full of positive feedback, and the video views keep growing daily,” says Oxzy.

On stage, Oxzy performed at Das Deck Zeigt in April, an open mic showcase hosted by the German Society under the German Embassy. Beyond music, he continues his leadership through the Kwela Initiative, as well as his long-running Donation Drive and Creative Arts Movement, platforms that support mentorship, socially conscious creativity, and community growth.

Natsiraishe Maritsa – 2022 Accountability Entrepreneur 

Natsiraishe Maritsa was appointed as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) & Community Ambassador for World Taekwondo (WT) in July 2025. Maritsa is one of three global ambassadors tasked with promoting WT’s core focus areas, raising awareness, inspiring action, and supporting young people within the international taekwondo community. In Zimbabwe, Maritsa has leveraged taekwondo as a tool for social impact, notably in initiatives addressing child marriage, highlighting the intersection of sports, youth empowerment, and community development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roselily Ushewekunze – 2020 Accountability Entreprenuer 

The founder of the Food Justice Network, Roselily Ushewekunze,  consistently advances climate and governance issues in Zimbabwe. In August 2025, she trained young people under the Urban Futures program, a collaboration between Green Governance Africa and it’s partners, facilitating conversations on the link between sustainable food systems and climate change.

From unpacking drivers and actors to exploring synergies and trade-offs in transforming food systems, her session challenged youth to think critically about their role in shaping sustainable futures. The training concluded with a creative “Food Systems Wall of Hope,” a collective vision of how young people imagine more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Star – 2024 Voice 2 Rep 

 

Star,  spoken word artist and youth advocate, is using her poetry to address pressing social issues, including gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health, while expanding her artistic reach into music.

She performed live at the Das Deck Zeigt Open Mic event, hosted by the Zimbabwe German Society in Harare on August 22.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOX the poet and Fundile Nkala – 2022 Integrity Icon.

On 16 August 2025,Fundile Nkala and SOX the Poet launched the Games for Peace event in Bulawayo. The initiative uses childhood games as a tool for community dialogue, addressing social issues such as violence, mental health, and substance abuse.

The project highlights how creative, low-cost approaches can create safe spaces for critical conversations and strengthen social cohesion. Read the full article HERE

 

 

 

 

Simon Zinhoro (2024 Integrity Icon), Tariro Zitsenga (2022 Integrity Icon) and Audrey Tasaranarwo (2024 Integrity Icon)

 

In August 2025, ALZ Integrity Icons were at the Harare Agricultural Show 2025, to demonstrate how public servants can model integrity and accountability in practice. Among those featured were Simon Zinhoro, Ward Development Coordinator in Hatcliffe, who empowers youth, champions mental health, and advocates for drug rehabilitation and social inclusion, Tariro Zitsenga, Nurse Aid at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, exemplifying compassionate service and upholding patient dignity and Audrey Tasaranarwo, Public Relations Officer at Chitungwiza Hospital, who defends patients’ rights and promotes transparency in healthcare delivery.

Their presence at the event went beyond exhibiting at stalls, highlighting how ethical leadership at the community level can translate into citizen empowerment, transparency, and trust-building on a national platform.

 

By Media and Communications Officer – Bathabile Dlamini