THE WIDOW'S ROOM, a journey from cultural oppression to freedom

160pp., paperback, Kraaifontien, 2021

Mbangiseni Dzivhani on her experience of widowhood in traditional Tsonga and Venda cultures.

Mbangiseni Dzivhani was born in Alexandra township in 1955. For many years she worked in various NGOs, managing programmes of gender equality, violence against women and children, advocacy and activism. For eight years she was Director and then Chief Director in the Presidency in the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. During this time she participated in various international forums including the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, The Southern African Development Community, Parliamentary Portfolio Committees and Cabinet. She lead the development and ratification of Gender Protocol in SADC Heads of State in 2008 under the chairmanship of President Thabo Mbeki. Currently she manages a company that focuses on socio-economic empowerment for women.