Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
For one day, more than 250 women put down the weight of responsibility, switched off the noise of everyday life and simply allowed themselves to breathe.
At Peech Boutique Hotel in Glen Lorne, Harare, on Saturday, women from different generations, professions and walks of life gathered for Her Secret Place 2026, a faith-centred experience built around a simple, but powerful message: They are Seen. Held. Adored.
Convened by Leya Mnangagwa, the gathering sought to create a safe space where women could step away from the demands of family, careers, churches, businesses and communities and focus on their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Anchored in Psalm 91:1, Her Secret Place went beyond the conventional church gathering, bringing together worship, prayer and biblical teaching with conversations around wellness, identity, relationships, grief, purpose and leadership.
The 2026 theme was drawn from Isaiah 62:4, particularly the words “my delight is in her”, with the Hebrew name Hephzibah – meaning “my delight is in her” – becoming a powerful reminder of the day’s message.
For Leya, the event was born from a desire to pour into women who are often busy pouring into everyone else.
“Her Secret Place was born from a desire to create room for the woman who is so often carrying everyone and everything else,” she said.
“We wanted her to have a day where she could step away from the demands, the titles and the expectations, and simply encounter God as a woman who is seen, held and adored.”
That message appeared to resonate strongly with the women who attended, particularly at a time when conversations around women’s emotional well-being and the pressure to constantly perform continue to dominate society.
Rather than presenting success as the ultimate measure of a woman’s worth, Her Secret Place challenged that narrative, reminding women that their value does not depend on their achievements, relationship status, usefulness or public recognition.
The programme deliberately addressed the whole woman, with wellness and activation experiences running alongside intimate breakaway sessions, panel discussions, personal testimony, creative expression, prayer, counselling and worship.
The Whole Woman Wellness and Soul & Spirit conversations provided room for issues that are sometimes difficult to discuss openly, while shared meals and intentional community gave attendees an opportunity to connect away from their usual routines.
The spiritual climax came through Nigerian apostolic minister Apostle Isi Igenegba, who was the keynote minister for the gathering.
Her visit was significant as it marked her first ministry trip to Zimbabwe, where she brought apostolic teaching, prayer and ministry to the women.
The gathering’s approach was deliberately broad.
While faith remained at its centre, Her Secret Place recognised that women do not experience life in neat compartments. Spiritual well-being can intersect with mental and emotional health, relationships, leadership, grief, purpose and the pressures of daily responsibility.
That whole-woman philosophy became one of the defining features of the event.
For many women, the idea of being “seen” spoke to the reality of quietly carrying responsibilities that may never receive public recognition.
To be “held” was a reminder that strength does not always mean carrying everything alone, while “adored” placed worth outside the approval of society.
Leya said her hope was that the women would leave with a renewed understanding of their identity.
“My hope is that every woman who came left reminded that her value is not measured by how much she carries or achieves, but by how deeply she is known and loved by God,” she said.
The event also demonstrated the growing appetite for spaces where women can engage faith alongside practical and personal issues affecting their lives.
Unlike a conventional conference dominated by speeches, Her Secret Place was designed as an experience — one where worship, conversation, wellness, testimony, food, fellowship and ministry worked together.
With more than 250 women filling the venue, the gathering brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, pastors, creatives, health practitioners, mothers, young women and community leaders.
They came from different backgrounds and stages of life, but the message was shared.
For a few hours, the women were not required to be someone’s boss, mother, wife, daughter, pastor, caregiver or community leader.
They were simply women being reminded that they, too, deserve a place to rest.
And at the heart of Her Secret Place was the scripture that gave the gathering its name: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
In a world that constantly demands more from women, Her Secret Place offered a different invitation — step away, be still and remember who you are.
Peter Tanyanyiwa