THE hearing and speech impaired continue to face challenges in accessing public services due to limited sign language knowledge by service providers

In an interview recently, after a disability inclusion and sign language certification ceremony, NFT director, Dr Pick Nkomwa, said equipping stakeholders with sign language skills and educating them on disability issues is one of the strategies of promoting inclusion of persons with disabilities.

He noted that this is one of the major targets under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). The training saw Government Ministries and departments in Gwanda being trained in sign language. The programme was conducted in partnership with World Vision.

NDS2, which stretches from 2026 to 2030, places a significant focus on disability inclusion as a core component of its strategy to achieve an upper-middle-income society by 2030. Building on the foundational National

Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), NDS2 aims to transition from general policy recognition to the systemic empowerment and integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all facets of life.

NDS2 aims to ensure that disability inclusion is not a secondary concern but a mainstream part of national developmental planning and budgeting.

“The trust was established in 2020, October and we commenced sign language training within the Gwanda community in 2021. Over the past five years, the organisation has capacitated various institutions, namely Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic staff, Gwanda Provincial Hospital School of Nursing students, Gwanda Christian School staff, and National Aids Council Matabeleland South Province staff.

“Recently, we trained Government Ministries and departments from Gwanda. “

We have also trained community members and the church fraternity. During disability awareness campaigns that we hold in communities, we also have short sign language training sessions. We have managed to reach over 1,500 people with basic sign language skills and the training continues,” he said.

Dr Nkomwa said that in order to complement policies and strategies that have been put in place by Government to mainstream disability issues, there is a need to educate both the private and public sectors for effective implementation of policies.

He said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to strengthening inclusive public service delivery by building the capacity of key government stakeholders.

“A number of policies have been implemented to promote inclusion of PWDs, but several challenges remain, such as slow implementation of policies, limited financial resources for specialised services and the need for improved access to education and justice. Limited knowledge of disability issues and a lack of basic sign language skills can unintentionally exclude members of the deaf community and other persons with disabilities from critical government services, hence the need for targeted training.

“This initiative is part of our commitment to plough back to key stakeholders and strengthen inclusive service delivery across public institutions. Persons with disabilities often face communication and attitudinal barriers when accessing public services,” he said.

Government has taken significant steps to promote disability inclusion and empower persons with disabilities (PWDs), moving towards a rights-based approach aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which it ratified in 2013.

Key efforts and initiatives include the National Disability Policy (2021), which was launched by President Mnangagwa. This policy acts as an overarching framework to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, and ensure disability inclusion in all public, private, and development sectors.

Government passed a new Act, the Persons with Disabilities Act (2025), to replace the outdated 1992 Disabled Persons Act. This new law aims to strengthen the legal protection of PWDs, including providing for reasonable accommodation and setting up a Disability Fund.

Government has also handed over vehicles, wheelchairs and assistive devices to young people with disabilities to facilitate mobility and enable them to run businesses.