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Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December. The main event took place on the outskirts of Harare in Ruwa under the theme, “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”.

In a speech read on her behalf by UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa Social and Human Sciences Programme Specialist, Phinith Chanthalangsy, the UN Resident Coordinator for Zimbabwe, Ms Maria Ribeiro highlighted the importance of building inclusive societies that cater for persons with disabilities and promote their rights especially during pandemics such as COVID-19. 

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic had disproportionately affected persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe because of their specific conditions and needs.  Persons with disabilities have lost their livelihoods or have limited ability to undertake informal livelihoods activities, accessing health and education services, food and nutrition, COVID-19 information and gender-based violence.

She reiterated that the UN in Zimbabwe has been engaged in promoting a systematic disability inclusive Covid-19 response through various initiatives. These include the Spotlight Initiative as well as the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (UNPRPD) Initiative.  Since the onset of the pandemic, UN Agencies have had consultations with various stakeholders; Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare (particularly the Department of Disability Affairs), the National Disability Board, the President’s Advisor on Disability Affairs, Disability umbrella bodies NASCOH &  FODPZ, Organization of Persons with Disabilities for a pragmatic disability inclusive response.

An estimated 200 delegates, including the Minister of state for Mashonaland East- Apollonia Munzverengwi, three Senators representing persons with disabilities in Parliament and the special advisor to the President’s office in persons with disabilities participated in the celebration. 

Meanwhile, the UN Resident Coordinator also took part in the COSP13 Side Event of the 13th Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), where only three countries were invited to speak of their experiences, under the theme; “Pooling efforts for disability inclusion at country level: the new UNPRPD Strategy”. 

Stressing the unique catalytic effects of the UNPRPD Programme in Zimbabwe, the RC expressed that the Programme has had a “domino effect” in many ways. She highlighted that, after nearly three years under the Joint Programme, the UN in Zimbabwe was now recognised as one of the main players in the area of Disability Rights and Inclusion in the country.

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. Celebrated on 3 December around the world, IDPD mobilizes support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities, promotes awareness raising about disability issues and draws attention to the benefits of an inclusive and accessible society for all.