Harare, 27 November 2025— TheEmbassy of Sweden in Hararetoday hosted an emotionally stirring launch of the16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), drawing school children, young people, artists, civil society leaders, government officials, and traditional and religious leaders under the theme“Women Thriving: Empowered and Free from Gender-Based Violence.” Standing in for the Swedish Ambassador,His Excellency Per Lindgarde, theDeputy Head of Development Cooperation, Emili Perez, welcomed guests and stressed Sweden’s long-standing commitment to gender equality. She highlighted the need for collective action to eliminate GBV and child marriages, urging men and boys to lead the movement for change. “Love shouldn’t hurt,” she said, before unveiling theLove Shouldn’t Hurt Wall Exhibition, a vibrant and compelling showcase of real-life stories of women and girls across Zimbabwe.
The exhibition—funded by the Embassy and implemented byPopulation Solutions for Health (PSH)—features four thematic pillars:Love Protects,Love Empowers,Love Leads, andLove Unites, each illustrating different dimensions of women’s resilience and community transformation. Guests moved along the gallery-like display, pausing to read stories of survivors, innovators, students, and leaders. Celebrated musicianTamy Moyogave a stirring performance that had the audience visibly moved.
”Fellow artistAmmara Brownoffered an intimate, heartfelt account of her relationship with love, peace, and healing—and her ongoing pride in serving as a Love Shouldn’t Hurt advocate. The crowd also heard uplifting testimonies fromgraduates of Chaminuka Technical and Vocational College, who expressed gratitude for PSH’s support in their training and personal growth. Their stories reflected renewed confidence, economic independence, and dignity.
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Several other beneficiaries shared how the Love Shouldn’t Hurt program transformed their lives, including a young woman who escaped an early abusive marriage and now runs a successful sunflower farming business while studying at Midlands State University. In his address,Dr. Noah Taruberekera, Executive Director of PSH, praised the Embassy of Sweden for its unwavering support.
“Today’s exhibition is not just a collection of photographs,” he said. “It is a visual testimony to the potential of women and girls in a violence-free environment. It showcases their hard work, resilience, and hope.” See AlsoNAMA 2026 Unveiled: Fresh Categories to Honour Zimbabwe’s Digital and Fashion Creatives NAMA 2026 Unveiled: Fresh Categories to Honour Zimbabwe’s Digital and Fashion Creatives He emphasized the importance of each exhibition category—Love Protects, Love Empowers, Love Leads,andLove Unites—in capturing the multi-layered work being done to uplift women and girls. Taruberekera invited beneficiaries on stage to share short inspirational messages, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
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