WomenLift Health has introduced its 2026 Southern Africa Leadership Journey cohort, bringing together 30 women leaders who are shaping the future of public health across the region. Over the next 12 months, these professionals will take part in a structured leadership program designed to strengthen their skills, expand their networks and increase their impact in health systems at national, regional and global levels.
The initiative focuses on building confident, effective and connected women leaders. Through reflection, peer learning and practical leadership tools, participants will strengthen their voice and presence in spaces where decisions are made. The long-term goal is clear: stronger women leaders will contribute to stronger health systems and better health outcomes for communities across Southern Africa.
WomenLift Health believes that sustainable change in global health depends on elevating the voices and lived experiences of women from diverse backgrounds. This cohort reflects that belief. The 30 selected leaders come from ministries of health, research institutions, international organizations, civil society and the private sector. Their combined experience spans clinical care, epidemiology, digital health, health systems strengthening, laboratory services, pharmaceuticals, mental health, reproductive health and public health emergency response.
Building Leadership Capacity Across the Region
The 2026 cohort includes Alinafe Kalanga, Director of Health Services for Zomba District at Malawi’s Ministry of Health. A medical doctor trained in Cuba with a Master of Public Health in Health Equity from KIT Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands, she is one of only three female district health directors among Malawi’s 28 districts. Through the program, she aims to mentor emerging women leaders and promote inclusive, high-performing teams through her project focused on nurturing women’s leadership in Zomba District.
Annette Kasambala, Coordinator at Evidence Action under the Safe Water Now program, brings over 15 years of experience in community engagement and WASH initiatives. With a background in Business Administration and Program Management and currently pursuing an MBA in Management, she has led projects that expand access to safe drinking water and strengthen local governance in Malawi.
Áuria Ribeiro Banze, Director of the Mozambique Field Epidemiologist Training Program at the National Institute of Health, has deep expertise in HIV, maternal and child health, surveillance, outbreak investigation and emergency preparedness. Her work focuses on data-driven approaches and field-based training to improve health outcomes.
Batsirai Mbodza, Southern Africa Regional Programmes Lead at Africa CDC, is a Zimbabwean public health specialist with strong experience in public health emergency preparedness and response. She oversees programs at the Africa CDC Southern Africa Regional Collaborating Centre and supports countries during complex health crises.
Beatrice Zulu, District Nursing Officer for Chikankata District Health Office, has more than 25 years of experience in nursing administration and public health systems. With qualifications in Nursing and Midwifery and a Master of Public Health in Global Health, she leads quality improvement and regulatory compliance across facilities.
Bharti Patel, National Executive Director of the South African Federation for Mental Health, has over 20 years of experience in public and community mental health. She serves on South Africa’s National Department of Health-Mental Health Ministerial Advisory Committee, advocating for stronger prioritization of mental health.
Carol Manyele, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager at Grassroot Soccer Zambia, is a demographer working to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health and mental health services. She also received the 2020 Scottish Government and Edinburgh Business School scholarship under the Gender Equality Initiative.
Chivimbiso Maponga, Associate Director for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, supports strategic planning, donor engagement and malaria elimination efforts across Southern Africa.
Faeezah Patel, Senior Medical Officer at Wits RHI and researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, focuses on maternal and child health, HIV treatment optimization and prevention of vertical transmission. She leads the Ubomi Buhle Pregnancy Exposure Registry and collaborates with South Africa’s National Department of Health.
Graça Matsinhe, Technical Director for Health Systems and Digital at Population Services International in Mozambique, has more than 15 years of experience leading immunization, malaria control, digital health and health systems programs.
Dr Idah Mokhele, Principal Researcher at the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, specializes in HIV, TB, maternal and child health research, combining epidemiology and behavioral science.
Jessica Mayenda, a Digital Transformation Expert, has led multi-country telehealth and AI-enabled service platforms across Africa, helping governments move projects from pilot stages to sustainable public infrastructure.
Lizandra Cristóvão, a senior member of Angola’s Ministry of Health, holds qualifications in healthcare services management and health systems strengthening and plays a strategic role in advancing reform.
Dr Lorrein Muhwava, Country Lead Scientist at FIND, leads implementation research and capacity-strengthening initiatives in South Africa’s public health sector, focusing on noncommunicable diseases and women’s health.
Mercy Marimirofa, Director of Technical Services at the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, is a public health specialist with expertise in reproductive health, biostatistics and advanced data systems including artificial intelligence applications in health.
Motlatso Priscilla Molaudzi, Provincial Director of the Limpopo Mental Health Society, has spent over two decades advancing mental health, child protection and disability inclusion in South Africa.
Mots’elisi Mokhakala, District Program Optimization Officer with the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, supports district health management teams on HIV, TB, noncommunicable diseases and maternal and child health.
Ndasowamwai Chitule, Country Director of VillageReach, has more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing health systems strengthening programs at community and national levels.
Ngonidzashe Portia Munhuweyi, Validation Manager at Varichem Pharmaceuticals, is a pharmaceutical leader specializing in regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and compliance across multiple international frameworks.
Nthabiseng Motopela, Primary Healthcare Coordinator at Scott Hospital, leads a multidisciplinary team across one hospital and seven health centers and has played a key role in quality improvement and COVID-19 integration efforts.
Dr Pamela Felicity Smith-Lawrence, Executive Director of the Botswana Public Health Institute, leads national public health emergency coordination and strengthens surveillance systems and global health security.
Patricia Mutale Kafweta, National Quality Assurance Manager at Zambia’s Ministry of Health, leads laboratory quality management systems aligned with international standards and spearheads Zambia’s National Multi-Pathogen Diagnostic Program.
Rumbidzai Ndungwani, Regional Business Director for East and Southern Africa at Cepheid, has 18 years of experience across vaccines, diagnostics and business management, working across public and private sectors.
Sharon Reakae, National Director of Special Olympics Botswana and co-founder of Haphega, advances inclusion and health equity for people with intellectual disabilities through sport and community programs.
Sijabulile Prudence Dlamini, Program Officer for NCDIMH at the Ministry of Health Eswatini, coordinates national strategies for noncommunicable diseases, mental health and integrated HIV, TB and SRH services.
Suse Emiliano, Chief of Programs at PSI Angola, leads integrated health portfolios including family planning, malaria, gender-based violence and social and behavior change programs.
Dr Temptation V Chigova, Reproductive and Maternal Health Officer at the World Health Organization in Namibia, leads national strategies on maternal, newborn and adolescent health and previously managed Namibia’s cervical cancer program.
Viola Sindila Milambo, Health Consultant, has over 14 years of experience in Zambia’s public health sector, focusing on quality improvement and evidence-based practice implementation.
Dr Vundli Ramokolo, Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council, is an epidemiologist with strong expertise in maternal and child health research and the interaction between nutrition and disease.
Zwakele Tfwala, Research Officer at ICAP Eswatini, supports health system strengthening and coordinates national health research dissemination, with experience in grant management and public health programming.
Driving Long Term Change in Public Health
The strength of this cohort lies not only in individual achievements but in the collective impact they can generate. These leaders work at every level of the health system, from community programs to national policy and regional coordination. By investing in their leadership growth, WomenLift Health is contributing to more inclusive decision-making, stronger governance and improved service delivery across Southern Africa.
Over the coming year, the Leadership Journey will help them deepen self-awareness, build resilience and form lasting professional networks. As they return to their institutions with stronger skills and broader perspectives, the benefits are expected to extend far beyond the program itself.
Through this cohort, WomenLift Health reinforces a simple message. When women leaders are supported, health systems become stronger and communities are better served.
