44 In Their Capacity as Human Rights Defenders: Women passion, saying. “The credit goes to the courage of decent ordinary people who keep risking everything for freedom. They motivate me.” 4.5 Media practitioners Thelma Chikwanha is a journalist by profession and is the political editor of The Daily News. Chikwanha is one of the few women holding a senior editorial position in Zimbabwe’s male dominated media industry. As political editor of one of the country’s largest newspapers, she has used her position to push for the promotion and protection of human rights across the gender divide. Like most human rights work, journalism is fraught with dangers and brings with it enemies, particularly for journalists like Chikwanha tackling human rights issues. “That does not deter me” she says. “Journalism is not a popularity contest. It is about taking the side of the weak, those vulnerable people whose rights are constantly violated by powerful actors. The biggest motivating factor is being a voice of the voiceless. When I bring human rights issues to the fore, it gives me an opportunity to influence policy at the highest level.” In 2013 Chikwanha spent time with female prisoners. A series of stories she wrote on their plight not only brought her an award but also resulted in more humanitarian support to prisons from organisations and individuals, as well as a commitment by prison authorities to improve the situation. Debra Duduzile Silibaziso Mabunda is the Executive Director of Radio Dialogue and a human rights advocate. She is a registered nurse by profession and has always been a person who wants to see justice for all. Mabunda believes everyone has a right to exercise their potential but the suffering of so many people, particularly women and children, has been her biggest motivation to continue this work. Most satisfying moments for her have been hearing women demanding their rights and talking about issues that affect them daily. She believes the best tool for human rights is knowledge and information. When people start talking and demanding service from their leaders, she really feels good. The low points have been the lack of rule of law and the continued acts of police harassment – even after these have been exposed – because there is no one to police the police. However, she has seen some improvement in the attitude of the police towards citizens at an individual level and believes we are going in the right direction. “Zimbabwe will improve its human rights record when there is full rule of law. This will only come about when the ordinary citizen is able to hold its leadership to account. Empowering the citizenry is the way forward.” 4.6 Medical practitioners Dr Rutendo Bonde is a medical doctor by profession. She is the current chairperson of Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights and has been a board member of CEDAS Trust (HIV Orphan protection) since 2007, where she is also chairperson of the programmes committee. Dr Bonde took over as ZDHR chairperson in 2011, a period when health rights activists suffered political prejudice. “It was difficult for stakeholders to distinguish this work from politics,” she recalls. Her organisation has been in the crosshairs of state and non-state actors angered by its assistance to political violence victims. Yet it was a public health crisis that drove Bonde into activism. “When almost 4 000 people died of cholera in 2008/9, it really spurred me on to say I cannot keep quiet, I am compelled to speak up for the sake of the people.” Since then, she has been advocating for the health rights of prisoners and impoverished rural women, who have little or no access to health care, and the improvement