NPAZ Senior Management Undergoes Disability Awareness Training

Harare - Senior management at the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) on Friday, February 6, underwent a disability awareness training in a move aimed at strengthening disability inclusion within the justice delivery system.

This comes amid growing concerns over persistent discrimination and stereotypes faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The training was held at the NPAZ head office in Harare, with senior managers outside the capital participating virtually.

The event was organised by the Authority’s Gender and Wellness Department and facilitated by officials from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, together with representatives from the Department of Disability Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Speaking on behalf of Prosecutor General Hon. Loice Matanda-Moyo, Deputy Prosecutor General Chris Mutangadura urged participants to ensure that the training yields practical change within the institution.

“This training must not end in this room. We expect the knowledge acquired here to be translated into measurable outcomes that improve how the National Prosecuting Authority serves persons with disabilities," said Mutangadura

He said disability inclusion was a constitutional imperative and a core component of ethical and professional prosecution.

“As prosecutors, we must be conscious of the fact that persons with disabilities continue to encounter barriers that prevent them from fully accessing justice.

"It is our duty to dismantle those barriers, not to reinforce them through ignorance or outdated attitudes,” Mutangadura said.

He further emphasised that embedding disability-sensitive practices within the NPAZ would strengthen the institution and align it with national development goals.

“When we apply this knowledge meaningfully, we strengthen the NPAZ and contribute directly to Vision 2030, which calls for inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind,” he said.

The training comes at a time when PWDs continue to face serious challenges within the justice system, including negative stereotypes, discrimination and a lack of reasonable accommodation.

These challenges are particularly evident at some magistrates’ courts, including the Bulawayo and Gweru Magistrates’ Courts, where accessibility constraints and limited disability awareness among justice actors have been cited as major obstacles to fair participation in legal proceedings.

Justice sector observers argue that while training senior management is a critical step, there is an urgent need to cascade similar disability awareness programmes to prosecutors, magistrates, court officials and frontline justice workers across the country.

“The reality is that PWDs experience the justice system at ground level,” said Mutangadura, adding that “If we are serious about inclusion, then disability awareness must be mainstreamed throughout all levels of the justice delivery chain.”

The NPAZ initiative has been welcomed by stakeholders as a positive move towards a more inclusive prosecutorial service, calling for continuous, decentralised and action-oriented training to confront discrimination and ensure equal access to justice for all Zimbabweans.