In Zimbabwe’s evolving political landscape, where promises of reform have yet to materialise, one unexpected force has emerged – comedy.

While official narratives speak of progress, social media tells a different story, one shaped by satire, memes and skits that turn national struggles into humour. But in a country where dissent carries risks, is laughter merely an escape, or is it a tool of resistance?

GoAllOut, a student-led organisation at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, is pressing for legislative action to provide free sanitary pads in schools and public spaces.

“We advocate for the provision of free sanitary pads as we want to promote female hygiene and take a stand against period poverty,” says Karabo Moalusi, a GoAllOut representative.

The Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research entity at the North-West University (NWU) will host its annual public lecture at the Mahikeng Campus on 13 March 2025.

The lecture will focus on the role of indigenous languages in media, with veteran broadcaster and NWU honorary doctorate recipient Dr Masego Ezekiel “Easy” Matjila as the keynote speaker.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Oscar Mosiane

In a significant step towards advancing agricultural research and community development, Eden Roots – a bee farming enterprise based in Tloung Village, Mahikeng – donated a honey extractor to the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Crop Science subject group on 28 February 2025.

The honey extractor will be stationed at the NWU’s Molelwane Farm.

Despite its vast resources and production capacity, Africa remains heavily reliant on external markets. This state of affairs has prompted Botswana to raise the alarm about low levels of intra-African trade.

“It's disheartening that Africa is still unable to realise trade among its countries,” said Dr Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, delivering a lecture in honour of the late South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Aziz Pahad at the North-West University (NWU) on 25 February 2025.

The North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute has reinforced its squad by re-signing a seasoned winger with top-flight and lower-division experience in South Africa and Botswana,Orebotse Mongae.

Mongae previously represented the NWU, returns to bolster the team’s campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

“It brings me peace and harmony to don the colours of this beautiful institution again. I am happy to be back home and play the beautiful game with such amazing people,” he said.

By Mafumane Tlhapi and Kealeboga Motshabi

North-West University (NWU) student Tsholofelo Hope Batumile has been crowned Miss Gender-Based Violence (GBV) North West. She is a second-year student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, pursuing an extended Human Resources Management programme.

Batumile said she entered the competition to raise awareness about GBV and highlight its impact in the region. “I wanted to extend and promote the message of self-love and self-appreciation among individuals,” she said.

The North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Nyandeni Local Municipality, recently concluded a two-day conference focused on smart villages, themed “Indigenous Knowledge-led Smart Village Regeneration”. This event attracted participation from a diverse group of scholars, researchers, indigenous-knowledge students, traditional leadership and innovators representing various universities both nationally and internationally.

Television advertisements influence how society views gender roles, and a new study from North-West University (NWU) explores how women are represented in South African adverts. The research, conducted by Koketso Rabanye from the NWU’s School of Communication, examined both traditional and changing portrayals of women in the media.

Instead of further depleting overharvested indigenous plants for medicinal purposes, it might be possible to use the bacteria inside their roots. This would preserve at-risk plants while still allowing access to the medicinal properties associated with them.