The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) will hold a Disability Rights and Elections module BRIDGE Workshop for civil society organisations and Chapter 12 institutions, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as key stakeholders working with people with disabilities. The workshop is scheduled to be held from September 30th to October 2nd, 2024.

The aim of the training is to equip the aforementioned organisations with practical skills on inclusion in the electoral cycle. The focus will be on programming skills for various electoral activities and a clear understanding of critical electoral activities, international standards, and the rights of people with disabilities. This will enable the organisations to effectively implement disability inclusive practices in their electoral work.

The participation of persons with disabilities remains unacceptably low in Zimbabwe, as they are often excluded and marginalised in electoral processes as voters or candidates. While progress has been made in appointing a Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioner with disabilities, several issues remain unaddressed for electoral processes to be inclusive. As such, this workshop represents an urgent and significant step towards fostering a more inclusive electoral environment in Zimbabwe, ultimately contributing to the broader goals of democratic processes and human rights.