Bulawayo – A new chapter in women’s leadership has been opened in Zimbabwe, after Senator Rittah Ndlovu unveiled the Queen Building Program in Bulawayo this week – a free empowerment project designed to raise a new generation of young African women leaders.
The initiative, launched on 4 September, is being rolled out in partnership with SheLeads Africa and Edd Branson Publishers, and is already being described as a game-changer for how young women are prepared for leadership roles across the continent.
For Ndlovu, a veteran trade unionist, women’s rights activist and Senator for Bulawayo, this program is deeply personal. “It has always been my life’s mission to make sure young women have the courage, tools, and wisdom to rise as leaders in their communities and beyond,” she said at the launch.
More than just leadership training
The Queen Building Program focuses on equipping women with practical skills — from self-mastery and resilience, to authentic leadership principles that help them lead not only others, but themselves first.
Edd Branson Publishers is anchoring the program with resources and storytelling, ensuring the lessons and achievements of participants are documented and shared widely. The goal is to inspire thousands more to step into leadership.
Also shaping the program is the TANYA Philosophy, drawn from the insights of Tanya Rushesha, a young Zimbabwean CEO, farmer, and entrepreneur. Rushesha’s unflinching wisdom — “Truth hurts but lies kill; All that glitters is a trap; No one is coming to save you; Your body isn’t your leverage; Ask better, not louder” — has been woven into the curriculum to prepare young women to face the realities of leadership in Africa.
Beyond classrooms, onto screens
In another boost, KeYona TV will air a dedicated series on the Queen Building Program, taking the lessons beyond classrooms and into homes and communities across Zimbabwe and the continent.
Bulawayo, known for its spirit of resilience and innovation, was chosen as the launch city. For Senator Ndlovu, that symbolism matters. “This city has always been a beacon of strength. It is only fitting that it becomes the birthplace of a program to raise Africa’s next women leaders,” she said.
Free and open to all
The program is free of charge, a deliberate move to ensure access is not limited by wealth or privilege. “Leadership should not be reserved for the few,” Ndlovu added. “Every young woman who is ready to rise deserves the chance to take her rightful place as a leader of tomorrow.”
With Senator Ndlovu’s political clout, Branson’s publishing platform, and Rushesha’s entrepreneurial wisdom, the Queen Building Program is being hailed as one of the most ambitious efforts yet to prepare young African women to take charge of their futures — and their nations.
“The future is in your hands, and the time is now,” Ndlovu said.
