Dr. Nkomwa Honoured for Advancing Disability Inclusion
By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Disability rights advocate and Founding Director of the Nkomwa Foundation Trust, Dr. Pick Nkomwa, has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Humanities by Open Christian University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to promoting inclusion, empowerment and equal opportunities for people with disabilities in Zimbabwe.
The honour was conferred during the university’s third graduation ceremony, where graduates and honorary doctorate recipients were celebrated for their contributions to society and community development.
Speaking during the ceremony, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe OCU Alumni, Dr Munei Nyoni, applauded the honourees for transforming communities through service and leadership.
“Today we celebrate visionaries who have turned faith into action, impacting communities through education, media and philanthropy. Your work embodies the spirit of service and excellence,” said Dr. Nyoni.
Addressing graduates and honorary recipients, Dr. Nyoni said the ceremony marked both an achievement and the beginning of a new journey.
“To our incoming graduates today, we pause to honour the road that brought you here, the challenges you overcame, the people who supported you and the growth you fought for. This shows what is possible when vision meets sacrifice,” he said.
“Class of 2026, the university welcomes you with open arms. The door you walk out of today is the same door we walked out of. Now it is your turn to hold it open for others.”
Receiving the honour, Dr. Nkomwa described the recognition as a celebration of resilience, inclusion and purpose.
“I receive this honour with deep humility and gratitude. This honorary doctorate is not just a recognition of my journey, but a celebration of resilience, inclusion and the power of purpose,” he said.
“My story, like many others, has been shaped by challenges, especially as a person who has faced discrimination and barriers due to disability. But these challenges did not define me; they refined me. They gave me the strength to stand, to serve and to advocate for those whose voices are often unheard.”
Over the years, Dr. Nkomwa has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading advocates for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities through the work of the Nkomwa Foundation Trust.
The organisation has gained recognition for championing inclusive development, community empowerment and social justice, while creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in economic and social activities.
Under Dr. Nkomwa’s leadership, the trust has mobilised resources and forged partnerships that have enabled the rollout of programmes focusing on disability awareness, youth empowerment, community engagement and advocacy for vulnerable communities.
The foundation has also participated in national initiatives, including the 2025 National Disability Expo, where it showcased its programmes and continued pushing for equal opportunities and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Dr. Nkomwa said the honour belonged to everyone working to break barriers of exclusion and inequality.
“This recognition belongs to every individual who refuses to be limited by circumstance. It belongs to every community that believes in equality and every institution that chooses inclusion over exclusion,” he said.
The recognition has been widely viewed as a testament to the growing impact of disability advocacy efforts in Zimbabwe and the important role organisations such as the Nkomwa Foundation Trust continue to play in advancing inclusion, empowerment and human dignity.