By Dumisani Ndlovu
Berlin, Germany – Zimbabwe made a significant impact at the 2025 Global Disability Summit (GDS) held in Berlin, demonstrating its strong commitment to promoting disability rights and inclusive development. The delegation,among them, Senator Annah Shiri, President of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ) and Deputy Chairperson of the Zimbabwe International Disability Inclusive Arts and Culture Festival (ZIDIAC) Advisory Council, engaged in productive discussions and showcased the nation’s progress in this crucial area.
The JF Kapnek Zimbabwe team, including the Executive Director and Programmes Manager, were also present at the summit and had the opportunity to connect with high-ranking government officials from Zimbabwe. Key meetings were held with Ambassador Alice Mashingaidze, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany, Hon. Mercy Dinha, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Sen. Ishumael Zhou and Sen. Annah Shiri, both Zimbabwe’s Senators for Persons with Disabilities, and Mrs. Laiza Chourombo, Acting Director of Disability Affairs.
“These interactions underscored Zimbabwe’s unwavering dedication to promoting disability rights and fostering inclusive development across all sectors,” stated a JF Kapnek representative. The delegation emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwean society.
The Global Disability Summit, a unique global mechanism, aims to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, particularly those from the Global South. Established in 2017, the GDS serves as a platform for global, regional, and national stakeholders to converge and share a unified goal and vision for disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action.
The summit strives to bridge the often-disparate areas of disability inclusion and development cooperation. More than a biennial event, the GDS operates as a continuous advocacy mechanism, engaging with global disability development stakeholders and mobilizing the disability rights movement and its allies.
At its heart, the GDS is a partnership between member states and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). This collaborative approach is exemplified by the co-hosting arrangements, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of persons with disabilities are central to the summit’s agenda and outcomes.
Zimbabwe’s active participation and engagement at the 2025 GDS further solidifies its commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible society for all its citizens, demonstrating its strong leadership on the African continent in advocating for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
