Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Bureau
PREPARATIONS for the Zimbabwe National Disability Expo 2025, set for June this year, have commenced in Victoria Falls with officials, on Thursday, assessing the proposed venue for the highly anticipated event.
The Expo is held annually on a rotational basis and this year Victoria Falls is hosting the three day Expo on behalf of Matabeleland North Province from 25 to 27 June.
The theme for this year is: “Accelerating disability inclusion now: A collective responsibility.”
The Expo is organised by the Office of the President and Cabinet through the office of the Special Advisor to the President and Cabinet and acts as a platform for action and raises awareness that disability issues should be central to programming.
In an interview with Zimpapers, Director in the Office of the Special Advisor on National Disability Issues, Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said the expo is a platform which allows persons with disabilities from all corners of the country to showcase the inherent abilities of persons with disabilities.
“We are saying persons with disabilities have got a lot of other things that they can do that are in relation to their different abilities and as people who have different abilities, we want to give them the maximum support in line with the vision of the country, which is driving towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society.
“They also have the right to enjoy all their rights, to make sure that they claim all their rights. As such, we encourage them, we support them to participate fully in all the activities of our society,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
Representing Victoria Fall Council, Councillor Tonderai Mutasa said there are happy to be hosting a national event of this magnitude and will put all hands on deck to ensure the event receives the dignity and integrity it deserves.
“This is a very good event and as the City of Victoria Falls, we have been tasked to come up with a venue, which is the Chinotimba stadium.
We feel that hosting such events assists our city in the sense that the event is going to leave this town with a better stadium, with better facilities, and our children, our players, as we go forward they will be able to use a ground which is well-improved,” said Cllr Mutasa.
The first two days of the expo will be dedicated to exhibitions, activities and side events while the third day will be the official opening.
Counterparts from neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia are expected to attend, according to the organisers.
The Expo is expected to leave a lasting impression in Victoria Falls with the planned refurbishment of Chinotimba Stadium which will be the venue. Ablution facilities, a fence, paving, lighting, and other developments will be made at the stadium ahead of the event.
@nyeve14
