Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
CONSTRUCTION of the Nkemeletje Disability Centre in Gwanda District has sparked a wave of hope and excitement across the community, with residents expressing strong belief that the facility will become a powerful driver of empowerment for people with disabilities in the area.
For a community long accustomed to seeing its most vulnerable members pushed to the margins, the rising walls of the centre symbolise change, dignity and long overdue inclusion.
The facility is expected to be completed in August this year, a timeline that many in Ward 16 now mark with anticipation.
Each stage of construction brings the project closer to becoming a lived reality rather than a distant idea, and for families affected by disability, it represents the promise of opportunity closer to home.
Alongside the physical structure, the centre will be equipped with clothing technology machinery and Information Communication Technology gadgets, ensuring that beneficiaries are offered practical, modern skills that align with today’s economic realities.
These additions signal that the centre is not merely about care, but about real empowerment and preparation for meaningful participation in society.
Located in Ward 16, the disability centre is being developed as a multi purpose hub designed to serve people across age groups and needs.
It will include an early childhood development centre specifically for children with disabilities, a vocational training centre, and spaces dedicated to digital and soft skills development. Agricultural initiatives such as goat rearing and horticulture projects are also planned, creating pathways for sustainable livelihoods and self reliance.
This initiative aligns closely with the Government’s broader vision of attaining an upper middle income society by 2030, a goal that explicitly commits to ensuring that People with Disabilities have equal access to education, healthcare, employment, information and infrastructure. Central to that vision is the understanding that empowerment begins with access — access to facilities, skills and opportunities that allow people to reach their full potential.
The Nkemeletje Disability Centre is being established through a partnership that brings together the Matabeleland South disability based organisation Nkomwa Foundation Trust, Gwanda Rural District Council, the local community and NFT, reflecting a collective approach rooted in shared responsibility and ownership.
Speaking in an interview, Mapate village head, Mr Solomon Ncube, said people with disabilities in rural areas have often been overlooked due to the absence of empowering infrastructure within their communities.
“We have people with disabilities in the rural areas but they have often been suppressed as they don’t have a place or platform where they can be empowered within the community. Having a disability centre will provide a platform for PWDs to be capacitated and empowered so that they can contribute significantly to the development of their communities.
“This will also help to change the mind set of people about PWDs. People will see that disability is being inability. We are glad that our community has been selected to house this institution”.
His words reflect a broader hope that the centre will not only change lives directly, but also challenge long held perceptions that have limited inclusion and participation.
Nkomwa Foundation Trust Director, Mr Pick Nkomwa, said considerable progress has already been made on the project, with construction steadily taking shape. He added that efforts are currently focused on securing roofing materials to bring the first phase closer to completion.
To kick start the project, the organisation received US$7 000 from the Australian Government Direct Aid Programme, a contribution that provided the foundation for construction to begin. Mr Nkomwa described the centre as a vision rooted in self reliance and dignity, rather than dependency.
He appealed to the corporate sector and individuals to consider investing in the initiative, emphasising that supporting the project would directly contribute to empowerment and inclusion for people with disabilities.
“We are deeply grateful for the progress that has been recorded under the project so far. The initial capital injection provided a strong foundation to kick-start the project. While we experienced some delays along the way, we remained within our planned time frame. The establishment of a disability centre is a vital investment in inclusive infrastructure. It represents a deliberate shift from a charity-based approach to a rights-based model of empowerment.
“This centre is envisioned as a beacon of dignity, ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully included in national development efforts. We therefore appeal to well-wishers, development partners, and the corporate sector to support us in completing our first block, particularly with roofing materials”.
Mr Nkomwa added that the centre will continue to expand as it becomes operational, with additional structures to follow. Among the planned developments are livelihood projects, including goat rearing, aimed at supporting long term economic independence for beneficiaries.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, who is also the Member of Parliament for Gwanda South, Dr Omphile Marupi, said the establishment of the centre is fully aligned with Government policy on empowering people with disabilities. He stressed that inclusion is not only a moral responsibility, but a constitutional and developmental necessity.
“The centre will serve as a skills hub and a model for inclusive rural development, proving that progress is achievable even in remote areas,” he said.
Dr Marupi said under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Second Republic has taken significant steps to advance disability rights and social inclusion. He pointed to the launch of the National Disability Policy on June 9, 2021, as a major milestone in that journey.
The policy seeks to end discrimination and marginalisation, while ensuring that people with disabilities fully participate in all aspects of life.
“Government has launched several initiatives to empower PWDs such as establishment of a Disability Affairs Department under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Development to coordinate disability-related programmes, appointment of PWDs to key public offices and roll out of inclusive education programmes to ensure children with disabilities learn in adapted environments,” said Dr Marupi.
He further noted that Government has worked closely with organisations such as NFT, Jairos Jiri Association and Leonard Cheshire Zimbabwe to support community rehabilitation and skills development programmes.
In addition, Government support for self help projects and cooperatives has helped strengthen economic independence among people with disabilities, reinforcing the belief that development must be inclusive to be sustainable.
As the Nkemeletje Disability Centre continues to take shape, it stands not just as a building under construction, but as a symbol of possibility — a signal that even in rural communities, progress can be intentional, inclusive and deeply human.
@DubeMatutu
