Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
Victoria Falls Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday called for a fundamental shift in the treatment of persons with disabilities, advocating for a move away from a charity-based model towards one that fosters self-reliance and active participation in national development.
The President emphasised the need to empower individuals with disabilities to enable them to become active contributors to the nation’s progress.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kembo Mohadi during the official opening of the Zimbabwe National Disability Expo 2025 in Victoria Falls yesterday, President Mnangagwa said persons with disabilities are entitled to the same dignity, rights and opportunities as all citizens.
He commended the expo, held under the theme, “Accelerating disability inclusion now: A collective responsibility”, for fostering inclusivity, collaboration and empowerment across all sectors.
“Persons with disabilities are, first and foremost, human beings who must be treated with utmost dignity and respect. They are entitled to all the rights we have as human beings and must fully enjoy them,” President Mnangagwa said.
He reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to enhancing disability inclusion in line with Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy (NDS1 and NDS2) and the National Disability Policy.
President Mnangagwa pledged to champion a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities thrive equally.
“My Government will always walk the talk and enhance the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in national development,” he said.
The President challenged society to abandon the outdated charity model, which views persons with disabilities as objects of pity and donations. Instead, he advocated for an empowerment-driven approach.
“Rather than giving persons with disabilities fish, as passive objects of charity, let us give them the fishing line — emancipate and empower them to be self-reliant,” President Mnangagwa said.
This, he noted, requires a shift from abstract rhetoric to practical actions that tangibly improve the lives of persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
“Words without action are useless, just like faith without works is dead,” said President Mnangagwa.
He also highlighted the importance of constitutional provisions safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, as outlined in Sections 6, 22, and 83 of Zimbabwe’s supreme law.
The President revealed that the Persons with Disabilities Bill is being finalised to address critical concerns and guide future programmes of action.
“The visibility, sensibility and audibility of persons with disabilities in all sectors of development is the hallmark of a progressively disability-inclusive society,” he said.
President Mnangagwa stressed that disability cuts across all demographics — gender, age, race and geography — and must therefore be integrated into all national development strategies.
“As we accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030, now targeted for 2028, let us ensure disability is practically included across all thematic sectors of the National Development Strategy,” he said.
The President also called for accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, employment opportunities and legislative reforms to ensure full participation of persons with disabilities in the economy.
He reiterated that disability inclusion is a collective responsibility requiring whole-of-Government and whole-of-society engagement.
“We must all embrace a spirit of working together towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities Let us remove the silo mentality and shift our focus to strong teamwork to increase production, productivity, empowerment and prosperity for everyone,” President Mnangagwa said.
The annual expo serves as a platform for advocacy, collaboration and innovation, reinforcing the Second Republic’s commitment to leaving no one and no place behind. It marks a significant step towards transforming societal attitudes and institutional frameworks to ensure persons with disabilities are active contributors to national development.
“A disability-inclusive society is the epitome of the Zimbabwe we all want — one where people are fully empowered and prosperous,” said the President.
As Zimbabwe moves towards an upper-middle-income economy by 2028, the empowerment of persons with disabilities remains a key pillar of sustainable and inclusive growth.
Vice President Mohadi handed over a Presidential package to support income-generating projects for persons with disabilities.
The package included 20 tonnes of rice, 50 goats for the Presidential Goat Scheme, 50 pigs for the Presidential Piggery Project, 10 incubators for the Presidential Roadrunners Contract Farming initiative, and assistive devices to be distributed across all 10 provinces.
The event brought together Government ministries, private sector players, civil society organisations and persons with disabilities, showcasing a united front in accelerating disability inclusion.
