25 Student Champions Commissioned to Lead Fight Against Sexual Harassment

25 Student Champions Commissioned to Lead Fight Against Sexual Harassment

25 Student Champions from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) were officially commissioned under Litsemba Rising, a groundbreaking intervention spearheaded by Women Unlimited Eswatini and Bantwana Initiative Eswatini in partnership with the University of Eswatini, supported by the UK Aid Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the What Works II programme.

The event, held at the UNESWA Kwaluseni campus, drew together students, faculty and international development partners, in a show of solidarity. Presiding over the ceremony was the UNESWA Vice Chancellor, Prof. JM Thwala who stood in the company of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Director for Africa, His Excellency Omar Daair, who, alongside His Excellency Colin Wells, British High Commissioner to Eswatini, formally commissioned the 25 Student Champions tasked with leading the student engagement platforms under the Litsemba Rising intervention.

“An Issue We Can No Longer Ignore”

Campus sexual harassment remains one of the most under-addressed issues in higher education in Eswatini. Studies show that female students disproportionately experience harassment, with devastating impacts on their dignity, academic participation, and mental well-being

“This is not the work of Women Unlimited and Bantwana Initiative alone, it is the result of collective vision and commitment.” Vimbai Kapurura, Executive Director, Women Unlimited Eswatini.

The Heartbeat of Change

For the newly commissioned Student Champions, the moment was both humbling and empowering. Many shared stories of transformation through the training process.

“As a student with a disability, I know what it feels like to navigate campus while carrying extra vulnerabilities,” said Khumbuzile Mbhamali. “This programme gave me the tools to advocate not just for myself, but for every student who deserves a campus free from harassment. Inclusivity and equity must be at the centre of prevention”.

For others, the journey has been deeply personal. “I joined because I was tired of feeling helpless,” reflected Andiswa Mashwama. “Now, I have found my voice and I want to help other women find theirs too. Advocacy is not always loud; sometimes it’s in the small, consistent actions that create safe spaces and shift narratives.”

Male students, too, are stepping into allyship roles. “This program did not just inform me; it transformed me,” said Mpendulo Matfonsi. “I learned that allyship is not passive. It is about showing up, listening, and taking safe, intentional action when it matters most.”

A Shared Responsibility

In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Thwala reaffirmed UNESWA’s commitment to supporting the Student Champions, noting the importance of institutional backing alongside student leadership. “This initiative aligns with our policies and our responsibility as a university to create an environment where every student can learn without fear,” he said.

More Than a Ceremony

The commissioning marked the official start of the Student Champions’ mandate to run Unlimited Interact Clubs across UNESWA. These peer-led clubs will serve as platforms for dialogue, and student-driven activism, with the ultimate goal of reshaping campus culture through transforming harmful norms.

“Litsemba Rising means hope,” Kapurura concluded. “And indeed, hope rises today, not just for the 25 champions we commission, but for every student who deserves to thrive without fear.”