Some years are hard to close. 2024 was one of them.

SAFOD lost its Director General, Mr Mussa Chiwaula, during the year. His leadership shaped the organisation for years. His absence left a gap that cannot be filled — only carried forward.

On 3 December 2024, SAFOD chose to close the year not in mourning, but in motion.

Why 3 December?

Every year, 3 December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The UN theme for 2024 was Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future. It was a fitting theme for an organisation that has spent decades doing exactly that — putting persons with disabilities at the front, not the back, of decisions that affect their lives.

What happened?

SAFOD held a networking and partnership breakfast meeting. The event brought together stakeholders with a shared interest in advancing disability rights across Southern Africa. It was designed to forge new alliances — practical connections that can carry the work forward into 2025 and beyond.

A breakfast is not a conference. It is a conversation. And sometimes a well-placed conversation opens a door that a formal meeting cannot.

Grief and resolve

The loss of Mr Chiwaula was not set aside that day — it was acknowledged. His commitment to the disability movement was woven into everything SAFOD has built. Those who gathered on 3 December did so knowing that his passing makes the work more urgent, not less.

SAFOD carries that resolve into 2025.

Looking ahead

The year ahead holds clear priorities. SAFOD will push harder for the adoption of the Draft SADC Disability Protocol, building on consultations already completed across seven countries. The DiDRR project will continue its community-level work in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

The breakfast on 3 December was a reminder that this work is not done alone. It takes partners. It takes allies. It takes the kind of relationships that begin over a shared table.

SAFOD is ready.

To learn more about SAFOD’s work on disability rights in Southern Africa, visit safod.net.