“I have been fighting for democracy since I was 13 years old”. Thabitha Khumalo’s search for democracy has been a life-long quest. In this talk, Khumalo shares her belief in democracy as the vehicle for the people’s voice, and her views on the role of parliamentarians. She wants her peers to go back to the roots of the representative system, with the people at the core of the conversation. “Start by listening,” she says. “It’s a bit of a lost art – some would argue especially among politicians! All people want is for leaders to listen… , to find solutions and improve their lives. To do that, we also have to ask the right questions…”.

The Honorable Thabitha Khumalo is a Member of Parliament, representing the Bulawayo East Constituency in Zimbabwe. She was appointed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health serving as its Vice-Chair until 2015.

The Honorable Thabitha Khumalo is a Member of Parliament, representing the Bulawayo East Constituency in Zimbabwe. A human rights defender and champion of of the rights of children, women, and the disadvantaged she was appointed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health serving as its Vice-Chair until 2015. In Zimbabwe, she was active in the Parliament Select Committee on the new Constitution, responsible for crafting a new Constitution under the Zimbabwe Government of National Unity.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx