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The Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) Taskforce has assigned a two-time Disability Journalist of the Year award winner, Nyasha Nhau, to engage the nineteen (19) Commonwealth countries in Africa to rally behind the DIAP document proposed to be adopted at the Commonwealth Heads Of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for the week of 20 October in Samoa.
“My task is to engage all Commonwealth State Parties in Africa, possibly the Heads Of Governments, and share with them the reasons why it is important to support and endorse the DIAP in October during their meeting.
“The DIAP seeks to promote a more inclusive and equitable society, unlocking the potential of PWDs and promoting sustainable development for all,” explained Nhau.
He said while DIAP also speaks about supporting resilient economies to push for disability inclusion in employment, it also encourages Commonwealth member states to execute the liberty of PWDs.
“Another important thing is that the DIAP talks about helping the environment to be friendly to mother nature concerning climate change, which is cardinal for all citizens, especially PWDs,” Nhau said.
Nhau holds several local and regional accolades on disability. He is the Ambassador for Disability at the African Union Disability Council (ADC) – a disability wing of the African Union Youth Clubs. He has already started to engage some Commonwealth member states in Africa through their Missions in Zimbabwe among other strategies.
“Instead of visiting every Commonwealth member states, we are engaging some of the Heads of Government through their Missions in Zimbabwe and through our ADC structures on the continent. We will visit countries not represented at the AU level in Zimbabwe and where we as ADC do not have structures yet, so that we save time since the CHOGM is around the corner. If all goes well, am hoping to be engaging with some of them during the upcoming SADC Summit scheduled for August this year.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is not in the Commonwealth and is pushing to be readmitted in the group of 56 independent countries from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific after it was suspended in 2002 before the late former President, Robert Mugabe decided to withdraw membership the following year.
However, Nhau was appointed on the 25th of June 2024 by the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.
The General Secretary and Chairperson of the DIAP Taskforce, Richard Rieser, said: “While Zimbabwe is pushing for the readmission in the Commonwealth through its re-engagement agenda, I would also love to see my fellow brothers and sisters with disabilities in Zimbabwe participating in the Commonwealth disability-related activities such as sports and other ongoing empowerment programs, even starting now.”
Nhau holds several awards and accolades from different local, regional, and international organizations. Another one was awarded to him together with 11 other people including Zim-UK-based billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Strive Masiyiwa, by Amnesty International in partnership with Higher Life Foundation, Shamwari yeMwanasikana, and Alive Albinism Initiative, for his sterling work for PWDs in Zimbabwe through the media.
With a population of over 2.6 billion citizens in Commonwealth member states, the countries are among the biggest, smallest, richest, and poorest countries but indifferent to that, all members have equal voice.