GRATITUDE, PARTNERSHIP, AND A SHARED VISION FOR EMPOWERMENT
On the 7th of May 2026, the Zimbabwe Albino Association (ZIMAS) opened its doors and its heart to the organisations and individuals who have stood with us, season after season, in the work of transforming the lives of persons with albinism in Zimbabwe.
The Partners Appreciation Workshop held at Cresta Lodge, Msasa, Harare was more than a formal gathering. It was an afternoon of honest conversation, shared gratitude, and renewed commitment between ZIMAS and the remarkable partners who have made so much of our work possible. From health providers to corporates, from development agencies to faith-based organisations, the room was filled with people who understand that changing the reality for persons with albinism in Zimbabwe is not a task that any one organisation can carry alone.
ZIMAS staff and partners gathered at Cresta Lodge, Msasa, for the Partners Appreciation Workshop, 7 May 2026.
A Room Full of Champions
The event brought together a cross-section of partners whose contributions have touched every part of the ZIMAS programme. Whether through financial support, technical assistance, in-kind giving, or simply showing up consistently at our side, each of these organisations has played a role in making a difference in the lives of persons with albinism across Zimbabwe.
Partners in attendance included: ZERA, ZIMPLATS, Generation Health, SkyMart, HigherLife Foundation, Nyaradzo, ICAF, NetOne, Women of Dominion, Medexpress, Ladies Circle, UNESCO, the Government of Zimbabwe, Emporium, Microfinance, FODPZ, CBM Global, and Sightsavers.
We were particularly honoured to receive Dr. Abdul Rahman Lamin, Head of Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO. Dr. Lamin is a respected figure in the regional development space, guiding programmatic priorities across Southern Africa, and his presence at the workshop carried real weight. He spoke warmly about the work that ZIMAS and UNESCO have done together, including the UNDIS pilot assessment and the second assessment conducted in 2024, both of which marked meaningful milestones in the formal recognition of ZIMAS’s work within the UN system. His remarks were an encouragement to the entire room and a reminder that the work being done here in Zimbabwe is not going unnoticed at the international level.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Lamin, Head of Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, addressing delegates at the Partners Appreciation Workshop
Honouring Our Partners
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of Certificates of Honour and Appreciation to each attending partner. It was a small gesture in comparison to what they have given us, but it was sincere. ZIMAS Director, Mercy Maunganidze, personally presented each certificate, and the joy in the room during those moments was genuine on both sides. These were not ceremonial tokens. They were an acknowledgement that what our partners do matters, that ZIMAS sees it, values it, and does not take it for granted.
Partners received Certificates of Honour and Appreciation in recognition of their continued support for ZIMAS programmes
