Dare to Shape the Future:

Thursday, April 15

8:30am-9:00am
Meet and Great (Coffee Provided)

9:00am-9:15am
Official Opening
Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action
Angela Chimbodza, on behalf of the Zimbabwe Diaspora community

9:15am-11:00am
Keynote Speakers
Brian Kagoro
Formerly with ActionAid as Regional Policy and Advocacy Manager of the Africa Region, and founding member of the National Constitutional Assembly in Zimbabwe, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and a human rights and constitutional lawyer. He was formerly the Chair of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

Discussant:
Emira Woods
Co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, Chairperson of Africa Action’s Board

11:00am-11:30am
Coffee Break

11:30am-1:00pm
Panel Discussion: National Healing and Renewal
Sekai Holland, Minister of State (Reconciliation and National Healing)
Dr. Callisto Madavo, visiting professor to the African Studies Program and before coming to Georgetown, he held several senior level positions in the World Bank
Moderator: Tendisai Chigwedere, Zimbabwean national who most recently completed a five-year term working & serving alongside the urban poor community of Chimalhuacan, located on the periphery of Mexico City

1:00pm-2:00pm
Lunch (Provided)

2:00pm-3:30pm

Panel Discussion: Zimbabwe Today: Assessing Progress under the Unity Government and Perspectives on Reconstruction and Democratization
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Briggs Bomba, Africa Action, Director of Campaigns
Queen Mabena, Third Millennium Foundation Trust
Moderator: Charles Mutama, Founder of the Mutama Development Trust, Zimbabwe

3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: The Time is Now: A New Constitution and Media Reform
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Ray Choto – Veteran journalist, Voice of America
Moderator: Carl LeVan, Assistant Professor in the School of International Service (SIS) at American University, Africa Coordinator for the Comparative and Regional Studies program

Friday, April 16

9:00am-10:30am
Panel Discussion: The State of the Education and Health Sectors in Zimbabwe
David Coltart, Minister of Education (Zimbabwe)
Dr. Moses Rumano, Professor at University of Miami, Ohio
Nomvimbo Meriwether, Meriwether Foundation
Moderator: Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

10:30am-12:00pm
Panel Discussion: Exploring U.S. policy Options Toward Zimbabwe
Imani Countess, Senior Director of Public Affairs, TransAfrica Forum
Bill Minter, Editor, Africa Focus
Moderator: Dr. Bob Edgar, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of African Studies, Howard University

12:00pm-1:00pm
Lunch (Provided)

1:00pm-3:00pm
Panel Discussion: Reengaging the Zimbabwe Diaspora: Roles and Contributions
Esau Mavindidze, Activist and community organizer
Titus Gwemende, Graduate Assistant, MA International Affairs (Communication and Development) Center for International Studies: Ohio University
Dr. Stanford Mukasa, Associate Professor, Journalism Department: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Moderator: Dominic Mutanga, Founder and Board Chair Director of Council for Zimbabwe

3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: Solidarity in Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe
Nunu Kidane, Director of Priority Africa Network
Gerald Lenoir, Director of Black Alliance for Just ImmigrationModerator: Walter Turner, Host of KPFA’s Africa Today & GX

5:00pm
Closing Remarks
Michael Stulman, Associate Director, Policy and Communications, Africa Action

5:00pm-6:00pm
Open Reception

*Denotes Invited
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