Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
The 2026 National Disability Expo roared into life at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo today with more than 500 exhibitors in attendance.
The three-day expo, an annual event on the national calendar, will reach a crescendo on Friday with the official opening of the event by President Mnangagwa.
This year’s expo is being held under the theme, “Embracing Disability Inclusion In All Sectors: A Masterstroke For National Prosperity And Economic Development.”
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira today officially opened the expo, where he commended President Mnangagwa’s commitment to making sure that no one and no place was left behind in Zimbabwe’s quest to become an upper-middle-income economy.
Minister Chadzamira reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to creating equal opportunities for all Zimbabweans, including people living with disability.
The expo’s national chair, Mr Charles Mugwamba, expressed satisfaction with the level of participation at the expo.
“We have more than 500 exhibitors who are participating at this year’s expo, and we are very happy that we have taken off on the first day on a high, things can only get better,” he said.
“The second day tomorrow (Thursday) will be dominated by exhibitions again and then on Friday we expect the President Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa to preside over the official opening.”
Mr Mugwamba paid tribute to the Second Republic for transforming institutions focused on the welfare of people living with disabilities.
Disability is not inability . . . Mr Munyaradzi Museki of Chikomba in Chivhu shows off some shoes that he manufactures in Chivhu.
“In Masvingo province, we have institutions such as Jairos Jiri Training Centre and Ngomahuru Hospital where village business units were set up to improve their economic wherewithal,” he added.
Some of the exhibitors are into agriculture and value addition of agricultural products, while others are into shoe-making, apiculture and even information communication technology.
One of the persons living with disability,Mr Silas Mhepo of Gutu West, who made his own wheelchair from scratch, pledged to make wheelchairs for others at affordable prices.
Mr Munyaradzi Museki of Chikomba in Chivhu, who is disabled, is into shoe-making and has created employment for three people in Chivhu town.
“I make shoes from designing them and then the actual manufacturing until they are ready for the market,” he said.
“I am appealing for financial assistance to boost my working capital needs, and if I get capital, I can expand my operations and even double my workforce to six people.”
