By Staff Reporter
CONDOLENCE messages from across the world poured in yesterday following the death of women rights activist Everjoice Jeketa Win with many describing her as a global champion for gender equality.
Popularly known as EJ, Win died yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa. She was 60.
“It is with profound sadness and deep sorrow that the Win Fambisai Dari Mawarire family announce the passing on of our beloved Everjoice Jeketa Win (EJ) on March 9, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa,” her family said in a statement.
ActionAid Zimbabwe country director Joy Mabenge described Win as a mentor.
“My friend, mentor, sister, colleague Everjoice J Win! Thank you for all you did for me as a person! I am holding on to the audio with your last words directly to me. Rest in Power EJ!,” Mabenge posted on his Facebook page.
Development practitioner Martha Tholanah also took to her Facebook page where she described Win’s death as “sad and heartbreaking”
“Thankful for your legacy and wealth of knowledge that you left for us and generations to come. Fly high, my dear Sister EJ.”
Feminist organisation Just Associates (Jass) Southern Africa described Win as a feminist of great repute and standing in the region.
“What a force you will always be! Jass is grateful to have known, loved and been loved by you,” the organisation said in a statement.
“She showed us all how to live with joy and generosity, love and heart, and a feminist fierceness that never dimmed.
“She challenged us to breathe, to fight, to keep going — even when the world tells us to stop.”
Equality Now’s regional representative Southern Africa Sally Ncube said: “She was here, she lived, she loved, she showed up, she worked hard, she laughed, she organised, she stood firm, she inspired, she pushed back, she defended and fought hard for women’s freedoms, inclusion, equality, rights and power. #RestInPowerEJ.”
Most of EJ’s working life has been in the women’s movement in Zimbabwe and the region.
She worked for ActionAid, Oxfam Canada, Women in Law and Development in Africa as well as Women’s Action Group.
EJ was an active leader in social justice movements as a founding member of the National Constitutional Assembly of Zimbabwe, a spokesperson for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and board member, Women and Aids Support Network, among others.
