- Women called to recognise their God-given identity and purpose
- Her HIV journey becomes a testimony of restoration
- “Let me tell you something” heads to manzini tomorrow
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE — For Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba, celebrating women is not simply about gathering them in one room,it is about reminding them that their stories, struggles and identities do not cancel the purpose they were created for.
The South African author, speaker and HIV activist delivered a powerful message of faith, womanhood and restoration at the 10th Edition Break Your Shell Mother’s Day Media Launch in Mbabane yesterday, where she reflected on what she described as God’s special purpose for women and encouraged women and girls to see themselves through a lens of possibility.
Mayaba said she immediately accepted the invitation to the celebration because it was centred on women celebrating women, describing the sisterhood as an opportunity to create examples that inspire the next generation.
She argued that women have a significant place in the biblical story, pointing to Mary Magdalene being the first person to whom Jesus revealed himself after His resurrection.
For Mayaba, that moment represents more than history.
She said it demonstrates that women have long been entrusted with carrying important messages and that their voices and contributions should not be limited by assumptions about what women can or cannot do.
Her message was particularly centred on the importance of women seeing other women succeed and using those examples as encouragement.
She said she wanted more women and girls to look at the women around them and ask: “If she did it, why can’t I do it?”
Behind Mayaba’s message of hope is a deeply personal journey.
The Gqeberha-born storyteller was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 at the age of 21 after taking an HIV test during a workplace wellness day. She initially kept her status private, navigating the fear and stigma surrounding HIV before eventually choosing to share her story publicly.
Her openness about living with HIV became a defining part of her public work, with her storytelling helping to challenge stigma and encourage conversations about HIV, identity and living beyond a diagnosis. She later became known for her work as an author, speaker, podcaster, content creator and television host, including her involvement with #YesIHaveHIV.
Her book Positively Me: Daring to Live and Love Beyond HIV, co-written with Sue Nyathi, further documented her journey and her experience of finding purpose after her diagnosis.
At the launch, Mayaba said her story did not end with her diagnosis.
She revealed that she later married an HIV-negative man and became a mother, describing these milestones as evidence of what she believes God can restore beyond circumstances that may initially appear devastating.
“I’m going around the world,” she said, referring to her testimony, “but the most important thing is just going with the gospel of saying that Jesus continues to save and He is a restorer.”
For women who may be carrying pain, disappointment or fear, her message was that their current circumstances should not be mistaken for the end of their story.
Mayaba is also extending her message of faith and reflection into literature.
She announced that she will be in Manzini tomorrow, October 3, for the Eswatini launch of her latest book, Let Me Tell You Something, a year-long devotional rooted in Scripture and real-life experiences. The book explores themes including healing, forgiveness, discipline, courage and trusting God beyond appearances.
The launch will take place at Metropolitan Evangelical Church in Fairview, Manzini, from 1pm.
For Mayaba, the book is another extension of the conversations she has built her platform around,conversations about faith, purpose, healing and the courage to tell the truth about one’s journey.
As she stood before women at the Break Your Shell launch, her message carried a thread that connected her personal testimony with the celebration’s wider purpose: a woman’s pain may form part of her story, but it does not have to define her destination.
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