BY TENGETILE MWALI (INTERN)
MBABANE- Swazi Plaza Properties will host Lisango, a men-centred dialogue platform, on Saturday, 18 April 2026 on the Swazi Plaza Rooftop in Mbabane, bringing men together to engage in open conversations on mental health, personal finance, gender-based violence and social responsibility, in response to growing concerns over limited spaces for men to express and navigate life’s pressures.
A new kind of conversation is taking shape in Mbabane, where silence has long defined how many men navigate pressure, responsibility, and expectation. In a society where men are often expected to endure quietly, Lisango emerges as a deliberate attempt to create space for reflection, honesty, and connection.
Set against a backdrop of shifting social dynamics, the initiative introduces a platform centred on dialogue rather than instruction. It is not framed as a conference or workshop, but as a gathering where lived experiences take precedence and vulnerability is not viewed as weakness.
The concept of Lisango is rooted in the understanding that men carry multiple roles as providers, partners, fathers, and community members yet often lack spaces where they can unpack the emotional and psychological weight attached to these identities. The accumulation of these pressures, frequently unspoken, continues to shape behaviour, relationships, and broader social outcomes.
The platform brings into focus issues that intersect both personal and public life, including financial responsibility, mental health, gender-based violence, and accountability within communities. The inclusion of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act situates the dialogue within a legal and social context, reinforcing the link between individual behaviour and national priorities.
Lisango also reflects a growing shift towards redefining masculinity in ways that prioritise emotional awareness, responsibility, and healthier relationships. By encouraging men to engage with these themes collectively, the initiative positions dialogue as a tool for transformation.
As the first initiative of its kind by the organisation, it signals an evolving role for private sector players in shaping social discourse, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces that contribute to community wellbeing.
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(Courtesy Pic)
